decarboxylation

Question

Decarboxylation of sodium acetate with soda lime gives:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

Decarboxylation involves the removal of the carboxyl group as $CO_2$.
- **Reagent**: **Soda Lime** (a mixture of $NaOH$ and $CaO$ in a $3:1$ ratio).
- Reaction: $CH_3COONa + NaOH(CaO) \xrightarrow{\Delta} CH_4 + Na_2CO_3$
- The reaction yields an alkane with **one less carbon atom** than the parent carboxylate salt.
- From Sodium acetate (2 carbons), we obtain **Methane** (1 carbon).

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decarboxylation

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