The substance that would not at all be formed during the reaction of methane and chlorine in the presence of sunlight is

Options

A. `CH_(3)Cl`
B. `CHCl_(3)`
C. `CH_(3)CH_(3)`
D. `CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(3)`

Answer

To determine the substance that would not be formed during the reaction of methane and chlorine in the presence of sunlight, we need to analyze the possible products of this reaction.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Reaction**:
- The reaction between methane (CH₄) and chlorine (Cl₂) in the presence of sunlight involves a free radical mechanism known as chlorination.
- This process can lead to the substitution of hydrogen atoms in methane with chlorine atoms.

2. **First Step of the Reaction**:
- The initial reaction produces methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) and hydrogen chloride (HCl):
\[ \text{CH}_4 + \text{Cl}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{light}} \text{CH}_3\text{Cl} + \text{HCl} \]

3. **Further Chlorination**:
- The reaction can continue, leading to further chlorination:
- CH₃Cl can react with Cl₂ to form dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂):
\[ \text{CH}_3\text{Cl} + \text{Cl}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{light}} \text{CH}_2\text{Cl}_2 + \text{HCl} \]
- CH₂Cl₂ can further react to form chloroform (CHCl₃):
\[ \text{CH}_2\text{Cl}_2 + \text{Cl}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{light}} \text{CHCl}_3 + \text{HCl} \]
- CHCl₃ can react to form carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄):
\[ \text{CHCl}_3 + \text{Cl}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{light}} \text{CCl}_4 + \text{HCl} \]

4. **Formation of Ethane**:
- Additionally, during the reaction, ethane (C₂H₆) can also be formed if two methyl radicals (CH₃•) combine:
\[ \text{CH}_3• + \text{CH}_3• \rightarrow \text{C}_2\text{H}_6 \]

5. **Identifying the Substance Not Formed**:
- Now, we need to identify which of the given options cannot be formed. The possible products from the chlorination of methane include:
- Methyl chloride (CH₃Cl)
- Dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂)
- Chloroform (CHCl₃)
- Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)
- Ethane (C₂H₆)
- However, propane (C₃H₈) cannot be formed because there are not enough carbon atoms in the starting material (methane) to produce a three-carbon compound through chlorination.

### Conclusion:
The substance that would not at all be formed during the reaction of methane and chlorine in the presence of sunlight is **propane (C₃H₈)**.

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