When methyl bromide is heated with Zn it gives:

Options

A. `CH_(4)`
B. `C_(2)H_(6)`
C. `C_(2)H_(4)`
D. `CH_(3)`OH

Answer

To solve the question "When methyl bromide is heated with Zn it gives:", let's break it down step by step.

### Step 1: Identify the Structure of Methyl Bromide
Methyl bromide has the chemical formula CH₃Br. It consists of a methyl group (CH₃) attached to a bromine atom (Br).

### Step 2: Understand the Reaction Mechanism
When methyl bromide is heated with zinc (Zn), the bromine atom can be removed from the methyl group. This process involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate. The bromine atom leaves as a bromide ion (Br⁻), resulting in a positively charged methyl carbocation (CH₃⁺).

### Step 3: Role of Zinc
Zinc is a metal that can donate electrons. In this reaction, zinc donates an electron to the carbocation (CH₃⁺), stabilizing it and forming a methyl anion (CH₃⁻).

### Step 4: Nucleophilic Attack
The methyl anion (CH₃⁻) acts as a nucleophile. It can attack another molecule of methyl bromide (CH₃Br). The nucleophile (CH₃⁻) will attack the carbocation formed from the second molecule of methyl bromide, leading to the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond.

### Step 5: Formation of Ethane
The result of this reaction is the formation of ethane (C₂H₆). The two methyl groups combine to form ethane, which has the molecular formula C₂H₆.

### Final Answer
When methyl bromide is heated with zinc, it gives ethane (C₂H₆).

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