Interpretation:
The mechanism for radical halogenation of methane is to be drawn, including the initiation step, propagation steps, and three different termination steps.
Concept introduction:
Halogen molecules undergo homolysis when irradiated with UV light to produce two radical atoms. Homolysis is the type of bond dissociation where each atom gets one of the bond electrons. The radical is an atom or molecule with an unpaired electron. It is highly unstable, and therefore a highly reactive species. This homolytic dissociation is called initiation.
Being reactive, a radical will react with other species present. This produces another radical, which can continue the reaction is a step called propagation. The reaction is generally branched as each initiation step produces two radicals. The propagation steps continue as long as radicals are present, and may be terminated by a reaction between two radicals.
The reaction generally results in substitution, often of a hydrogen atom from the hydrocarbon skeleton.
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