Why is Wurtz reaction not preferred for the preparation of alkanes containing odd number of carbon atoms ? Illustrate with one example.

Explanation

In Wurtz reaction when alkyl halide is treated with sodium metal, an alkane having double the number of carbon atoms present in alkyl halide will be formed. So always we get an alkane with even number of carbon atoms. If an alkyl halide with even number of carbon atoms and another alkyl halide with odd number of carbon atoms are used in Wurtz reaction a mixture of hydro carbons are produced. So Wurtz reaction is not preferable for the preparation of alkanes with odd number of carbon atoms. This can be illustrated with the following examples.
`CH_(3)Cl+2Na+ClCH_(3)toCH_(3)-CH_(3)+2NaCl`
`CH_(3)CH_(2)Cl+2Na+ClCH_(2)CH_(3)toCH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(3)+2NaCl`
`CH_(3)Cl+2Na+ClCH_(2)CH_(3)toCH_(3)-CH_(3)+CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(3)+CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(3)`