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Question:

Hydrocarbon (A) reacts with bromine by substitution to form an alkyl bromide which by Wurtz reaction is converted to a gaseous hydrocarbon containing less than four carbon atoms. (A) is _______.

CH4

CH2=CH2

CH3−CH3

CH≡CH

Solution:

Hydrocarbon (A) is methane (CH4). It reacts with bromine by substitution to form methyl bromide
CH4+Br2→CH3−Br+HBr
Methyl bromide by Wurtz reaction is converted to a gaseous hydrocarbon containing less than four carbon atoms.
2CH3Br+2Na→CH3−CH3+2NaBr
In Wurtz reaction, when the same alkyl halide is used, the product alkane has an even number of C atoms.