Skip to content

What is Wurtz Reaction

What is Wurtz Reaction

It is crucial to know what is wurtz reaction, it is an organic chemical associating reaction. In this sodium, the metal reacts with two alkyl halides in the existence of a dry ether solution to generate an elevated alkane as well as a molecule including sodium and the halogen. For the synthesis of alkanes, the Wurtz reaction is a very useful process in organic chemistry and organometallic chemistry.

Understand and digitize school operations with Teachmint and its features like the attendance management system for efficient school management.

With the help of sodium and dry ether solution, two distinct alkyl halides are bonded to yield a longer alkane chain in this reaction. Students can understand what is Wurtz reaction is by experimenting. 

This reaction is named after Charles Adolphe Wurtz, a French chemist who also discovered the aldol reaction. Metals such as silver, indium, activated copper, zinc, and iron, in addition to sodium, can be employed in the Wurtz reaction to produce alkanes.

A free radical species designated by R•, which is a part of a halogen-metal exchange, is involved in the mechanism of the Wurtz reaction. The production of Grignard reagents is comparable to this method. This chemical process, which can be broken down into three steps, forms the carbon-carbon bond through a nucleophilic substitution reaction. Students should remember what is Wurtz reaction to solve the questions based on it. Read science projects for students.
From basic Chemistry to advanced topics, here is a repository of relevant assignments, tests, PDFs of books, and more to help you upgrade your knowledge and skills. Click here to know more.

Know more about LMS portal and how it can help in seamless school operations management.

Introducing the World's First AI-Enabled Connected Classroom Technology
World's First AI-Enabled Connected Classroom Technology