Question

How many gram of sodium (atomic mass 23 u) is required to prepare one mole of ethane from methyl chloride by Wurtz reaction?

Options

• 2

• 23

• 11.5

• 46

Answer 1

46

Explanation:

The Wurtz reaction between methyl chloride and sodium metal in presence of dry ether can be written as:

\[\ce{2CH3Cl + 2Na ->[Dry ether] \underset{\text{Ethane}}{CH3 - CH3} + 2NaCl}\]

⇒ 2 moles of sodium metal reacts to give 1 mole of ethane.

Also,

1 mole of Na metal = 23 g

∴ 2 moles of Na metal = 23 x 2 = 46 g

Thus, 46 g of sodium is required to prepare one mole of ethane from methyl chloride by Wurtz reaction.