Question

Write the different products obtained by the chlorination of ethane.

Short answer

Question: List the different products obtained by the chlorination of ethane. Answer: The different products obtained by the chlorination of ethane are: 1. Chloroethane (C2H5Cl) 2. 1,1-dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2) 3. 1,2-dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2) 4. 1,1,1-trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3) 5. 1,1,2-trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3) 6. 1,2,2-trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3) 7. 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane (C2H2Cl4) 8. 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (C2H2Cl4) 9. 1,1,1,2,2-pentachloroethane (C2HCl5) 10. Hexachloroethane (C2Cl6)

Step-by-step solution

Write down the molecular formula of ethane

Ethane has the molecular formula C2H6.

Identify all possible chlorination reactions

The chlorination of ethane can produce different products, depending on how many hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms. We can have mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa-chlorinated products. Let's go through all of them one by one:

Monochlorination

In the monochlorination of ethane, one hydrogen atom is replaced by a chlorine atom: C2H6 + Cl2 -> C2H5Cl + HCl The product is chloroethane (C2H5Cl).

Dichlorination

In the dichlorination of ethane, two hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms. There are two possible products here, depending on the position of the chlorine atoms: 1,1-dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2): The two chlorine atoms are on the same carbon atom. 1,2-dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2): The two chlorine atoms are on two different carbon atoms.

Trichlorination

In the trichlorination of ethane, three hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms. There are three possible products: 1,1,1-trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3): All three chlorine atoms are on the same carbon atom. 1,1,2-trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3): Two chlorine atoms are on one carbon atom, and the third one is on the other carbon atom. 1,2,2-trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3): One chlorine atom is on one carbon atom, and the other two are on the second carbon atom.

Tetrachlorination

In the tetrachlorination of ethane, four hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms. There are two possible products: 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane (C2H2Cl4): Three chlorine atoms are on one carbon atom, and the fourth one is on the other carbon atom. 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (C2H2Cl4): Two chlorine atoms are on each carbon atom.

Pentachlorination

In the pentachlorination of ethane, five hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms: 1,1,1,2,2-pentachloroethane (C2HCl5): Three chlorine atoms are on one carbon atom, and the other two are on the second carbon atom.

Hexachlorination

In the hexachlorination of ethane, all six hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms: hexachloroethane (C2Cl6): Each carbon atom has three chlorine atoms attached. These are all the different products that can be obtained by the chlorination of ethane.