Answer to Question #196915 in Organic Chemistry for Kiran Kaur

Question

1. (a) Use the Arrhenius equation to calculate the ratio of the rate constants k for the hydrogen abstraction in methane with a chlorine atom and with a bromine atom at 25^oC. Assume the A values for the two reactions are the same, and use E_a = 4 kcal/mol for chlorination and E_a = 19 kcal/mol for bromination.

(b) The high selectivity of radical bromination towards secondary and tertiary C-H bonds disappears if equimolar mixture of Br₂ and Cl₂ are used. The selectivity of the bromination between alkanes and the mixture of Br₂ and Cl₂ is very similar to the selectivity of chlorination. Explain this phenomenon.

Answer 1

1.$1.004×10 ^{11}$

2.Slow reaction​ rate for bromination is because of low bond erngy of HBr than HCl.

If equimoleculer Br2 and Cl2 is used, then chain initiation reaction will occurs with Cl2 as high bond energy of HCl makes this step enthalpytically more favourable (exothermic reaction) and because of low bond energy for Br2, chain propagation reaction will occurs by Br2. And as a whole activation energy for the reaction will be decreased so rate will be increased.