Wurtz reaction is an organic chemical coupling reaction where sodium metal reacts with the two alkyl halides in the environment. It comes with a solution of dry ether to form a higher alkane and a compound consisting of sodium and halogen. The Wurtz reaction is a useful reaction used in the field of organic chemistry and organometallic chemistry for forming alkanes. The reaction consists of two different alkyl halides mixed to form a longer alkane chain using sodium and dry ether solution. The reaction was named after the French chemist Charles Adolphe Wurtz, who also discovered the aldol reaction. Except for sodium, metals like indium, silver, zinc, activated copper, and iron can be used in the reaction to obtain alkanes. The mechanism of the reaction consisted of free radicals, which allows the possibility of side reactions that can result in the formation of alkenes as the product.
