Explain why alkyl halides are generally not prepared in the laboratory by free radical halogenation of alkanes.

Hint: Alkyl halides are compounds consisting of a halogen atom attached to the alkyl group. When alkyl halides are prepared in the laboratory by a free radical mechanism give different types of products and are difficult to separate which makes the alkyl halides preparation unsuitable in the laboratory.

Complete answer:
Chemical compounds are classified into functional groups based on the groups present in them. Hydrocarbons are compounds consisting of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. Saturated hydrocarbons are nothing but alkanes in which the carbon and carbon atoms were bonded by a single bond.
When a halogen atom is attached to alkanes, then those compounds are known as alkyl halides. Generally, it is not possible to prepare alkyl halides in the laboratory. When alkanes were treated with halogen in the presence of light, free radicals will be generated. The free radical reactions take place in multiple steps like chain initiation, chain propagation, and chain termination. Due to these all steps, multiple products will be obtained.
Thus, due to the phenomenon of poly halogenation alkyl halides are generally not prepared in the laboratory by free radical halogenation of alkanes.

Note:
Poly halogenation occurs due to a greater number of hydrogen atoms in alkanes. These hydrogen atoms can be replaced by halogen atoms resulting in the formation of multiple products like bi, tri, and tetra substituted halogen alkyl halides.