Which of the following equations describes the reactions of chlorine with an excess of methane?

Options

A. `CH_(4)+Cl_(2)overset(hv)rarrCH_(3)Cl+HCl`
B. `CH_(4)+2Cl_(2)overset(hv)rarrCH_(2)Cl_(2)+2HCl`
C. `CH_(4)+2Cl_(2)rarrCHCl_(3)+3HCl`
D. `CH_(4)+4Cl_(2)rarrC Cl_(4)+4HCl`

Answer

A

Explanation

The proportion of different chloromethanes produced depends on the relative amounts of the reactants and the reaction conditions. If excess of methane over chlorine is used, the chance of chlorine reacting with `CH_(4)` is greater than with any of the formed chloromethanes, i.e., `Cl^(.)` will mainly strike with `CH_(4)` to give `CH_(3)Cl.`