Question

Give the reaction of chlorine with ethane and name the product formed. 

Answer 1

When ethane reacts with chlorine

1. C₂H₆ + Cl₂ → C₂H₅Cl + HCl
   Chloroethane
2. C₂H₅Cl + Cl₂ → C₂H₄Cl₂ + HCl
   Dichloroethane
3. C₂H₄Cl₂ + Cl₂ → C₂H₃Cl₃ + HCl
   Trichloroethane
4. C₂H₃Cl₃ + Cl₂ → C₂H₂C_l4 + HCl
   Tetrachloroethane
5. C₂H₂Cl₄ + Cl₂ → C₂HCl₅ + HCl
   Pentachloroethane
6. C₂HCl₅ + Cl₂ → C₂Cl₆ + HCl
   Hexachloroethane

Answer 2

\[\ce{\underset{Ethyl chloride}{C2H6} + Cl2 -> C2H5Cl + HCl}\]

or

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{....................}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{.......}\\
|\phantom{....}|\phantom{.....................}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{.......}\\
\ce{H - C - C - H + Cl2 -> H - C - C - Cl + HCl}\\
|\phantom{....}|\phantom{.....................}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{.......}\\\
\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{....................}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{........}\\
\end{array}\]