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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: peterek0 on October 04, 2014, 09:11:42 AM

Title: Wurtz Reaction
Post by: peterek0 on October 04, 2014, 09:11:42 AM

Hi,
I have a question regarding Wurtz reaction. Why do we connect two halogenoalkens with the same number of carbons. Why can't i join toughter diffrerent ones?

Title: Re: Wurtz Reaction
Post by: Dan on October 04, 2014, 09:35:00 AM

Well you can, but there is a problem.

If I gave you a bag containing 100 black marbles and 100 white marbles and asked you to draw out 100 pairs blindfolded, what combinations would you expect to draw?

Title: Re: Wurtz Reaction
Post by: peterek0 on October 04, 2014, 09:55:15 AM

50/50

So we use the same halogenoalkans to avoid gaining multiple different alkans. I see.
Thanks a lot :)

Title: Re: Wurtz Reaction
Post by: Dan on October 04, 2014, 10:31:13 AM

Quote from: peterek0 on October 04, 2014, 09:55:15 AM

50/50

Quote

No, there are 3 combinations - black/black, black/white and white/white.

Quote

So we use the same halogenoalkans to avoid gaining multiple different alkans. I see.
Thanks a lot :)

Yes. See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wurtz_reaction#Limitations