Q22 / 75 · JEE Main 2026 (05 April Shift 2) · Chemistry
$RMgI$ when treated with ice cold water liberated a gas which occupied $1.4\text{ dm}^3/\text{g}$ at STP. The gas produced is further reacted with iodine in presence of $HIO_3$ to give compound (X). Compound (X) in presence of Na and dry ether produced compound (Y). Molar mass of compound (Y) is _______ $\text{g mol}^{-1}$. (Nearest integer)
Correct answer: 30
Solution
The reaction of Grignard reagent with water yields an alkane:
$RMgI + H_2O \rightarrow RH + Mg(OH)I$
Given that $1 \text{ g}$ of the gas $RH$ occupies $1.4 \text{ dm}^3$ at STP, we can find its molar mass. Using the standard molar volume at STP ($22.4 \text{ dm}^3$):
$\text{Molar mass of } RH = \dfrac{22.4 \text{ dm}^3 \text{ mol}^{-1}}{1.4 \text{ dm}^3 \text{ g}^{-1}} = 16 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$
The alkane with a molar mass of $16 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$ is methane ($CH_4$).
Methane reacts with iodine in the presence of an oxidizing agent like $HIO_3$ (which prevents the backward reaction by consuming the formed $HI$) to give methyl iodide:
$CH_4 + I_2 \xrightarrow{HIO_3} CH_3I + HI$
Thus, compound (X) is methyl iodide ($CH_3I$).
Compound (X) undergoes the Wurtz reaction when treated with sodium and dry ether to form a higher alkane:
$2CH_3I + 2Na \xrightarrow{\text{dry ether}} CH_3-CH_3 + 2NaI$
Compound (Y) is ethane ($C_2H_6$).
The molar mass of ethane ($C_2H_6$) is:
$2 \times 12 + 6 \times 1 = 30 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$
Answer: $30$
$RMgI + H_2O \rightarrow RH + Mg(OH)I$
Given that $1 \text{ g}$ of the gas $RH$ occupies $1.4 \text{ dm}^3$ at STP, we can find its molar mass. Using the standard molar volume at STP ($22.4 \text{ dm}^3$):
$\text{Molar mass of } RH = \dfrac{22.4 \text{ dm}^3 \text{ mol}^{-1}}{1.4 \text{ dm}^3 \text{ g}^{-1}} = 16 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$
The alkane with a molar mass of $16 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$ is methane ($CH_4$).
Methane reacts with iodine in the presence of an oxidizing agent like $HIO_3$ (which prevents the backward reaction by consuming the formed $HI$) to give methyl iodide:
$CH_4 + I_2 \xrightarrow{HIO_3} CH_3I + HI$
Thus, compound (X) is methyl iodide ($CH_3I$).
Compound (X) undergoes the Wurtz reaction when treated with sodium and dry ether to form a higher alkane:
$2CH_3I + 2Na \xrightarrow{\text{dry ether}} CH_3-CH_3 + 2NaI$
Compound (Y) is ethane ($C_2H_6$).
The molar mass of ethane ($C_2H_6$) is:
$2 \times 12 + 6 \times 1 = 30 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$
Answer: $30$
Hence, the correct answer is 30.