Why does chlorine go colourless in a layer of hexane, bromine yellow/ orange and iodine purple? I thought hexane wasn't reactive.
Do the halogens react with water/ air?
2007-05-08 05:12:10 · 2 answers · asked by Muppet 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The above answerer hasn't understood the question at all.
Hexane is a much better solvent for the halogens than water. Chlorine actually looks pale green, bromine orange-red and iodine purple. These are the true colours of the halogen molecules. There is no reaction under normal conditions between hexane and the halogens.
2007-05-08 06:28:40 · answer #1 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hexane isn't particularly reactive, but can undergo free radical substitution reactions in the presence of UV light.
The UV light splits the chlorine (Cl2) into two Cl radicals.
These then attack the hexane molecule and are substituted in place of H on the hexane, possibly giving C6H13Cl.
However, there are a variety of products and this is a very inefficient reaction.
2007-05-08 05:17:52 · answer #2 · answered by Yates 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋