Ethane is foremd during the formation of chloromethane by chlorinationn of methane because

Options

A. higher members of the hydrocarbons are generally formed during reactions
B. two methyl free radicals may combine during chlorination to give ethane
C. two chloromethane molecule react to form ethane
D. chlorine free radical reacts with methane to give ethane.

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the formation of ethane during the chlorination of methane to produce chloromethane, we can break down the process into clear steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Chlorination Process**:
- The chlorination of methane involves a free radical mechanism that occurs in three main steps: initiation, propagation, and termination.

2. **Initiation Step**:
- In the initiation step, the chlorine molecule (Cl₂) is split into two chlorine radicals (Cl·) when exposed to sunlight or heat. This can be represented as:
\[ \text{Cl}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{light}} 2 \text{Cl}· \]

3. **Propagation Step**:
- The chlorine radical (Cl·) generated in the initiation step reacts with methane (CH₄). This reaction breaks a C-H bond in methane, forming a methyl radical (CH₃·) and hydrogen chloride (HCl):
\[ \text{Cl}· + \text{CH}_4 \rightarrow \text{CH}_3· + \text{HCl} \]

4. **Formation of Chloromethane**:
- The methyl radical (CH₃·) can then react with another chlorine radical (Cl·) to form chloromethane (CH₃Cl):
\[ \text{CH}_3· + \text{Cl}· \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{Cl} \]

5. **Termination Step**:
- In the termination step, the chain reaction can end in several ways. One possibility is that two methyl radicals can combine to form ethane (C₂H₆):
\[ \text{CH}_3· + \text{CH}_3· \rightarrow \text{C}_2\text{H}_6 \]
- This is the key reaction that explains why ethane is formed during the chlorination of methane.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The formation of ethane occurs because two methyl radicals can combine during the chlorination process. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that ethane is formed when two methyl radicals react with each other.

### Final Answer:
Ethane is formed during the formation of chloromethane by chlorination of methane because two methyl free radicals may combine during chlorination to give ethane.