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Question

Explain the role of dry ether in Wurtz reaction.


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Solution

Wurtz reaction:-

  1. In this reaction, an Alkyl halide is reacted with sodium in presence of dry ether in order to yield alkanes.
  2. The hydrocarbon that is formed as the product contains double the amount of carbon atoms present in the halide.
  3. The general equation for the reaction is:

2RX+2NadryetherR-R+2Na-X

4. Here the -R is the Alkyl group and Xis considered a halogen.

Role of dry ether:-

  1. As in the presence of sodium metal the reaction takes place, which is extremely reactive, a solvent has to be chosen in such a manner that it does not react with sodium metal.
  2. Also the alkyl halide needs to dissolve in the solvent.
  3. The Sodium halide formed must be insoluble in a solvent that can be easily removed, and also the alkane formed must stay in the solution.
  4. Hence due to this factor, the reaction state needs the use of an aprotic solvent as the reaction medium.
  5. Therefore for being an excellent non-polar, aprotic solvent dry ether is used.

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