In the initiation step, a halogen molecule is broken down into two halogen atoms.
a. a Give an equation to show this, using bromine as your example.
b. b What name is given to this type of bond breaking?
c. c Name two ways of providing sufficient energy for this reaction.
d. d What happens to the number of radicals present in a mixture of an alkane and a halogen during an initiation step?
e. e Explain why it is the halogen–halogen bond that breaks during the initiation stage, rather than a C—H bond in the alkane.