Iodination of methane is reversible. Explain why.

Answer : Methane reacts with iodine to give methyl iodide (iodomethane) and hydrogen iodide (HI). Hydrogen iodide being a strong reducing agent converts iodomethane back to methane.

Reaction of methane and iodine is reversible

Iodination of methane may, however, be carried out in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as HIO3, HNO3, HgO etc., which oxidizes the HI formed to iodine.

HIO3 can be used to destroy HI produced in iodination
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