UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA

FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
NAME: ____________________________ DATE /TIME:_________________________
USI: ______________________________ ROOM: ____________________________
CHM1207 Experiment #8
Halogenation of Alkanes
Theory
The Alkanes are one class of Organic compounds and can be represented by the general formula
CnH2n+2. These compounds are said to be saturated because each carbon atom is surrounded by
four single bonds (the sigma bond). This results in these compounds being relatively unreactive,
however they do undergo a few reactions of which halogenation is one.
The Halogenation of an alkane requires the presence of sunlight, which splits the Halogen
molecule forming two free radicals. A free radical then attacks and extracts a hydrogen atom
from the alkane thus forming an alkyl free radical. The alkyl radical then combines with another
halide radical to produce the organic product. This reaction is known as the Free Radical
Substitution reaction.
Objectives

 To chlorinate propane gas.

 To understand the role of sunlight in the halogenation of alkanes.
 To understand the reaction mechanism for halogenation of alkanes.

Material & Apparatus

 Long glass tube  Water

 Propane gas  Aluminium foil
 Chlorine gas  Large Beaker

Safety

 Propane is an extremely flammable gas. Keep away from heat, hot surfaces sparks, open
flames, and other ignition sources. If inhaled, immediately move to fresh air.
 Chlorine gas is toxic. It causes eye and respiratory tract irritation. Do not inhale but if
done, move to fresh air immediately.
Procedure
1. Fill the long glass tube with water and invert into a large beaker of water.
2. Add propane gas, from the gas tap to the inverted tube until about half of the water is
displaced.
3. Cover the inverted tube to exclude light.
4. Add chlorine gas to the tube to displace the remaining water.
5. Take the tube, still inverted in the beaker of water, into the sunlight and remove the
cover.
6. Carefully observe any changes which may occur and record them.
Useful Data
hc
E= c = 3.00 × 108 m/s
λ

NA = 6.022 × 1023 /mol h = 6.626 × 10-34 Js

Observation
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Exercise:
1. Account for the behavior of the water meniscus when the gaseous mixture was exposed
to the sunlight.
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2. Describe the role of sunlight in the reaction.

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3. Draw the structure of one of the likely products of this reaction.

4. Given that ΔHDis of Cl–Cl is 242.6 kJ/mol, what is the wavelength of light required to
bring about this reaction?

5. Could light from a deuterium lamp (λ=250nm) initiate the reaction? Why?
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6. Write the reaction Mechanism for this reaction.