How many monochloro derivatives are obtained on chlorination of n-pentane , isopentane and neopentane ? Write down their structures .

Explanation

There are three and four types of non-equivalent hydrogen atoms in n-pentane `(CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3)` and isopentane `[CH_3CH(Ch_3)CH_2CH_3]` respectively.
Whereas, in neopentane `[(Ch_3)_4C]` ,all H-atoms are equivalent. Therefore, chlorination of n-pentane,isopentane and neopentane form three, four and one monochloro derivatives respectively.
`underset("n-pentane")(CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3)overset(Cl_2//hnu)toCH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2Cl+CH_3CH_2CH_2CHClCH_3+CH_3CH_2CHClCH_2CH_3`
`underset("Isopentane")(CH_2CH(CH_3)CH_2CH_3)overset(Cl_2//hnu)toCH_3CH(CH_3)CH_2CH_2Cl+CH_3CH(CH_3)CHClCH_3+CH_3CH(CH_2Cl)CH_2CH_3+CH_3C""Cl(CH_3)CH_2CH_3`
`(CH_3)_4C("Neopentane")overset(Cl_2//hnu)to(CH_3)_3C""CH_2Cl`