If 3-ethylpentane is subjected to free radical chlorination, how many different monochlorination product would be produced?Correct answer is '4'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

1,2,3 position  (3 monochloro product) & 4th product is 1 chloro 2ethyl 2 methyl butane

Answer

Answer

Monochlorination is a type of reaction in which a hydrogen atom in an alkane is replaced by a chlorine atom. When 3-ethylpentane undergoes free radical chlorination, the reaction can occur at different positions on the molecule, resulting in the formation of different monochlorination products.

There are four different positions where the chlorine atom can replace a hydrogen atom in 3-ethylpentane. Let's examine each position separately:

1. Chlorination at the primary carbon:
- In this case, the chlorine atom replaces one of the hydrogen atoms attached to the primary carbon atom (the carbon with only one other carbon atom attached to it).
- This results in the formation of 2-chloro-3-ethylpentane.

2. Chlorination at the secondary carbon:
- The chlorine atom can also replace one of the hydrogen atoms attached to the secondary carbon atom (the carbon with two other carbon atoms attached to it).
- This leads to the formation of 3-chloro-3-ethylpentane.

3. Chlorination at the tertiary carbon:
- The chlorine atom can replace one of the hydrogen atoms attached to the tertiary carbon atom (the carbon with three other carbon atoms attached to it).
- This results in the formation of 4-chloro-3-ethylpentane.

4. Chlorination at the methyl carbon:
- The chlorine atom can also replace one of the hydrogen atoms attached to the methyl carbon atom (the carbon with only one hydrogen atom attached to it).
- This leads to the formation of 2-chloro-2,3-dimethylbutane.

Therefore, the reaction of 3-ethylpentane with free radical chlorination produces four different monochlorination products: 2-chloro-3-ethylpentane, 3-chloro-3-ethylpentane, 4-chloro-3-ethylpentane, and 2-chloro-2,3-dimethylbutane.

It is important to note that the relative abundance of each product depends on several factors, such as the reactivity of the different carbon atoms and the stability of the resulting radicals.

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