Chloromethane, more commonly known as methyl chloride, is an organic compound classified as a haloalkane functional group. Functional groups are atoms that control how the molecule will react with other molecules. Haloalkane functional groups consist of a carbon atom with four single bonds and one of the bonds occupied by an element of the halogen family; in this case, chlorine. The structural formula is CH3Cl. This formula affects some of the physical properties, including the boiling point at -22.22°C and the melting point at -97.7°C. Other physical properties consist of a slight sweet odor, a colorless gas, and solubility in water. One type of reaction that produces chloromethane is a photochemical reaction. Photochemical reactions occur because light illuminates the reaction and provides the heat and energy needed to start the reaction. When light comes into contact with diatomic chlorine, reactions begin; Cl2 → 2Cl ●. A radical reaction ensues. Radical reactions are reactions involving free radicals. Free radicals are singular atoms or molecules that have an unbonded electron, denoted by a ●, or dot, next to the element or molecule. The second stage begins when one of the original radical chlorine atoms combines with methane to create a methyl radical group and hydrochloric acid; CH4 + Cl● → CH3● + H Cl. The methyl radical group then becomes an intermediate when it becomes a product with diatomic chlorine to ultimately produce chloromethane and a chlorine radical: CH3● + Cl2 → CH3Cl + Cl●. Methylation also takes place during this third step of the photochemical process. Methylation is the addition or subtraction, in this case addition, of a methyl group in a medium of paper......10th unabridged edition. Retrieved January 2, 2014, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tritiumVinyl chloride. (nd). Dictionary.com full version. Retrieved December 31, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vinyl chloride Wechsler, J. and Lane, M. (1983). U.S. Patent No. 4,370,272. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Witcoff, HA, Reuben, BG, & Plotkin, JS (2012). 12.2.1 Chlormethane. In HA Witcoff, BG Reuben and JS Plotkin (authors), Industrial Organic Chemicals. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=-xPAJHRqSSgC&pg=PT295&lpg=PT295&dq=how+is+chloromethane+used+to+make+silicone&source=bl&ots=WRvMLQN8EI&sig=BkKBwH0uXUDlItH2pCzhotW6wNc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y4fEU p _gD8bP2wXUpIGICw&ved= 0CDYQ6AEwAg #v=onepage&q=comment%20is%20chloromethane%20used%20to%20make%20silicone&f=false