Question

Write a note on Wurtz Reaction. 

Answer 1

Alkyl halides react with metallic sodium in dry ether as the solvent and form higher alkanes containing double the number of carbon atoms present in alkyl halide. This reaction is called the Wurtz reaction.

e.g. \[\ce{2R - X + 2Na ->[dry][ether] R - R + 2NaX}\]

\[\ce{\underset{(Methyl chloride)}{2CH3Cl} + 2Na ->[dry][ether] \underset{(Ethane)}{CH3 - CH3} + 2NaCl}\]