Question

How is Ethane prepared in the laboratory?

Answer 1

Ethane$\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6\right)$ is an alkane.

When the mixture of Sodium propionate$\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{COONa}\right)$ and Soda-lime or Sodium hydroxide$\left(\mathrm{NaOH}\right)$ is heated using a Bunsen burner, the ethane$\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6\right)$ is evolved.

The chemical equation is

$\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{propionate}}{{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hydroxide}}{\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\stackrel{∆}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{carbonate}}{{\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Ethane}}{{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$.