Question

What happens when methane reacts with chlorine? Give equation of the reaction which takes place.

What happens when chlorine reacts with methane in the presence of sunlight? Write the name of the reaction.

Answer 1

1. When methane reacts with chlorine, a substitution reaction takes place. Methane reacts with chlorine in the presence of sunlight to form chloromethane and hydrogen chloride. In this reaction, chlorine substitutes hydrogen. Therefore, this reaction is also known as chlorination.
2. The chemical equation for this reaction is:
   \[\ce{CH4 + Cl2 -> CH3Cl + HCl}\]