The Wurtz reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the coupling of two alkyl halides to form a carbon-carbon bond. It is named after the French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz who discovered it in 1855. The reaction is commonly used in organic chemistry for the synthesis of alkanes, which are hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. The reaction is usually carried out in the presence of sodium metal, which acts as a reducing agent. The reaction is also known as the Wurtz-Fittig reaction when an aryl halide is used instead of an alkyl halide. The reaction is an important name reaction in organic chemistry and is taught in class 12.