Use the passage below and your own knowledge to answer the questions that follow. Methane reacts with bromine to give bromomethane and hydrogen bromide. The mechanism for the reaction is called free-radical substitution and involves homolytic fission of chemical bonds. The reaction proceeds via initiation, propagation and termination steps.

a. By what mechanism does bromine react with methane?

b. Write a balanced symbol equation for this reaction.

c. Bonds break in this reaction. What type of bond breaking is involved?

d. What essential conditions are required for this reaction? Why?

e. For this reaction, write down an equation for:

i. An initiation step

ii. A propagation step

iii. A termination step.