How will you obtain ethane from grignard reagent with equation

To obtain ethane from a Grignard reagent, you would typically start with a Grignard reagent that contains a carbon chain, such as ethyl magnesium bromide (C2H5MgBr). The process involves a reaction with water or an alcohol, which will ultimately lead to the formation of ethane. Let's break down the steps and the chemical equation involved in this transformation.

Understanding Grignard Reagents

Grignard reagents are organomagnesium compounds that are highly reactive and can be used to form carbon-carbon bonds. They are created by reacting an alkyl or aryl halide with magnesium metal in an anhydrous ether solvent. For example, ethyl magnesium bromide is formed from ethyl bromide and magnesium:

• Ethyl bromide (C2H5Br) + Magnesium (Mg) → Ethyl magnesium bromide (C2H5MgBr)

Reaction with Water

When you want to obtain ethane from the Grignard reagent, you can react it with water. The Grignard reagent acts as a strong nucleophile and will react with the electrophilic hydrogen in water. This reaction leads to the formation of ethane and magnesium hydroxide bromide as a byproduct. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:

• C2H5MgBr + H2O → C2H6 + Mg(OH)Br

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s look at the reaction in detail:

1. Formation of the Grignard Reagent: First, you create ethyl magnesium bromide from ethyl bromide and magnesium.
2. Reaction with Water: When ethyl magnesium bromide is treated with water, the nucleophilic ethyl group (C2H5-) attacks the hydrogen atom of water.
3. Formation of Ethane: This results in the release of ethane (C2H6) and the formation of magnesium hydroxide bromide (Mg(OH)Br).

Why This Reaction is Important

This reaction is significant in organic synthesis because it allows chemists to generate hydrocarbons from more complex organometallic compounds. Ethane is a simple alkane that can be used as a building block in various chemical processes.

Conclusion

In summary, obtaining ethane from a Grignard reagent involves the reaction of ethyl magnesium bromide with water, resulting in the formation of ethane and a magnesium byproduct. This process showcases the utility of Grignard reagents in organic chemistry, particularly in synthesizing hydrocarbons.