Question

How can the following reactions be used to prepared alkanes?

Kolbe's electrolytic method

Answer 1

Kolbe's electrolysis method uses sodium salt of fatty acid to form the corresponding alkane as a product.

In this reaction, the decarboxylation of the sodium salt of fatty acid takes place.

$2R-CO{O}^{-}N{a}^{+}+H_{2}O\to R-R+2C{O}_2+H_2+2NaOH$