Here's the equation for the reaction:
CH₃CH₂MgBr + CH₃OH → CH₃CH₃ + MgBrOCH₃
Explanation:
* CH₃CH₂MgBr: This is the Grignard reagent, ethyl magnesium bromide.
* CH₃OH: This is methanol, which acts as the acidic proton source.
* CH₃CH₃: This is ethane, the alkane formed as the product.
* MgBrOCH₃: This is magnesium bromide methoxide, a byproduct of the reaction.
Mechanism:
1. The nucleophilic carbon in the Grignard reagent attacks the acidic hydrogen of the methanol molecule.
2. The bond between the hydrogen and oxygen in methanol breaks, forming ethane (CH₃CH₃) and a magnesium bromide methoxide (MgBrOCH₃) ion.
Note: This reaction is highly exothermic and can be quite vigorous.