JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3g3139
Bond dissociation energies in kcalmol−1: primary C-H 101, H-Cl 103, H-Br 88. The enthalpy changes (ΔH) of the hydrogen abstraction step R−H+XX∙RX∙+H−X for a primary C-H bond with X=Cl and X=Br respectively are
A+13 and −2
B−2 and +13
C−2 and −13
D+2 and −13
Answer: B
ΔH = (bond broken) - (bond formed). For ClX∙: 101−103=−2 kcal/mol. For BrX∙: 101−88=+13 kcal/mol. Thus the bromine step is endothermic, with a late transition state, and the chlorine step is slightly exothermic, with an earlier one.