What is meant by a substitution reaction? Give an example (with equation) of the substitution reaction of an alkane.
Substitution reaction is a characteristic of saturated hydrocarbons. The reaction in which one (or more) hydrogen atoms of a hydrocarbon are replaced by some other atoms (like chlorine), is called a substitution reaction.

Example: Methane (CH4) reacts with chlorine in the presence of sunlight to form chloromethane and hydrogen chloride.



40