Why does methane react with halogens?

ED Edwardmelaika asked on 30 June 2020, 01:49
2 answers / 716 views / 0 votes
AB
Methane and halogens don't only react with each other. This reaction has an activation through UV-light. The UV-light breaks their chemical bonds in to the free radicals. these free halogen radicals then react with methane resulting in the formation of methyl chloride and free hydrogen radical.
CH
Methane and halogens don't just react with each other. The reaction has to be activated with UV-light.

UV-light breaks chemical bonds into free radicals. The halogen bond will be the first one to break. The free halogen radicals immediately react with methane to form methyl chloride and a free hydrogen radical. The H-radical can react with halogens to form halogen acids and another halogen radical.

This continuous until two free radicals meet and bond without forming more radicals. The reaction slows to a halt as the radicals run out.

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