BRAINCAKEFurther Substitution
Free-radical substitution does not stop after one hydrogen has been replaced. A chlorine radical can remove a hydrogen from chloromethane, leading to further substitution.
For example: CH3Cl + Cl• → •CH2Cl + HCl, then •CH2Cl + Cl2 → CH2Cl2 + Cl•
Repeating this gives trichloromethane, CHCl3, and tetrachloromethane, CCl4. The overall equation for complete substitution is CH4 + 4Cl2 → CCl4 + 4HCl.
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More in Alkanes
- Combustion
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- Flue Gas Desulfurisation
- Catalytic Converters
- Greenhouse Effect
- Carbon Neutral Activities
- Free-Radical Substitution
- Ozone Layer
All 20 lessons in Alkanes · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics