methylbromide reacts with sodium in presence of dryether

The reaction of methyl bromide with sodium in the presence of dry ether is a type of nucleophilic substitution reaction known as the Wurtz reaction. Here are the steps:

1. Two moles of methyl bromide react with two moles of sodium. The sodium atom donates an electron to the bromine atom in the methyl bromide, breaking the carbon-bromine bond and forming a sodium bromide salt. This leaves a methyl radical.

2. The methyl radical, which is very reactive, can then react with another methyl radical to form ethane.

3. The overall reaction is: 2CH3Br + 2Na -> CH3-CH3 + 2NaBr

This reaction is used to couple alkyl halides to form higher alkanes.