Question

When a chlorine atom replaces a hydrogen atom in a methane molecule, it is categorised as a/an reaction.

• A. elimination
• B. addition
• C. substitution

Answer 1

The correct option is C substitution

Chlorine $\left(C{l}_2\right)$ replaces a hydrogen atom in methane $\left(C{H}_4\right)$ very quickly in the presence of sunlight to give chloromethane $\left(C{H}_{3}Cl\right)$. This type of reaction is called substitution reaction.
${\mathrm{CH}}_4\left(g\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(g\right)\underset{}{\overset{\mathrm{sunlight}}{\to }}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{Cl}\left(g\right)+\mathrm{HCl}\left(g\right)$