The reaction of alkyl halides with sodium metal in dry ether is

The correct answer is Option (4) → Wurtz reaction

Halogen compounds react with sodium in dry ether, joining the two organic groups by a new carbon–carbon bond. The name depends on which halides are used, and related reactions exchange one halogen for another:

• Wurtz reaction: two alkyl halides with sodium give an alkane with double the number of carbon atoms.

      \( \displaystyle \ce{2R-X + 2Na} \xrightarrow{\text{dry ether}} \ce{R-R + 2NaX} \)

• Wurtz–Fittig reaction: an alkyl halide and an aryl halide with sodium give an alkylarene.

      \( \displaystyle \ce{Ar-X + R-X + 2Na} \xrightarrow{\text{dry ether}} \ce{Ar-R + 2NaX} \)

• Fittig reaction: two aryl halides with sodium give a biaryl.

      \( \displaystyle \ce{2Ar-X + 2Na} \xrightarrow{\text{dry ether}} \ce{Ar-Ar + 2NaX} \)

• Swarts reaction: an alkyl chloride or bromide is heated with a metallic fluoride (AgF, \( \ce{Hg2F2} \), \( \ce{CoF2} \) or \( \ce{SbF3} \)) to give an alkyl fluoride.

      \( \displaystyle \ce{CH3Br + AgF -> CH3F + AgBr} \)

So the reaction of alkyl halides with sodium metal in dry ether is the Wurtz reaction.

NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Reactions of Haloalkanes – …