A 1-mole sample of an unknown terminal alkyne with the formula reacts quantitatively with an excess — Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question
Question
A 1-mole sample of an unknown terminal alkyne with the formula $C_5H_8$ reacts quantitatively with an excess of methylmagnesium bromide ($CH_3MgBr$) in dry ether. Exactly how many moles of methane gas are liberated during this acid-base reaction?
💡 Solution & Explanation
A terminal alkyne contains exactly one highly acidic hydrogen atom attached to the $sp$ -hybridized carbon. Methylmagnesium bromide acts as a strong base, abstracting this acidic proton to form methane gas ($CH_4$) and the alkynylmagnesium bromide salt. Since there is only one acidic proton per molecule, 1 mole of the terminal alkyne reacts with 1 mole of the Grignard reagent to release 1 mole of methane.