Question

How to convert benzoic acid to benzene?

Answer 1

Conversion of Benzoic acid to Benzene:-

Step 1: Formation of Sodium benzoate

When the Benzoic acid is reacted with Sodium hydroxide$\left(\mathrm{NaOH}\right)$ and Calcium oxide$\left(\mathrm{CaO}\right)$ it produces Sodium benzoate:

Step 2: Formation of Benzene

this Sodium benzoate formed is now hydrolyzed to for our required Benzene:

This conversion of Benzene from Benzoic acid is a 2 step reaction.

Therefore, Benzoic acid treated with Soda lime($\mathrm{NaOH}$ and $\mathrm{CaO}$) followed by hydrolysis produces Benzene.