Question

What is meant by a substitution reaction? Give an example (with equation) of the substitution reaction of an alkane.

Answer 1

Substitution reaction is a reaction in which hydrogen atoms of a hydrocarbon are replaced by other atoms. It is a characteristic of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes).
For example:
Methane (alkane) reacts with chlorine, in the presence of sunlight, to form chloromethane and hydrochloric acid.
The chemical equation of this reaction is as follows:
CH₄ + Cl₂  → CH₃Cl + HCl