Question

Treating Sodium acetate with Soda lime produces:

• A. Methane
• B. Ethane
• C. Propane
• D. Butane

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Methane

Explanation for correct option:

(a): Methane

1. Sodium salt of Carboxylic acid on heating with Soda lime generally gives alkane as the major product.
2. When Sodium acetate reacts with Soda lime it produces Methane and Sodium carbonate.
3. The chemical reaction involved is shown below:
   $\underset{(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{acetate})}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hydroxide})}{\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\stackrel{\mathrm{CaO},∆}{\to }\underset{\left(\mathrm{Methane}\right)}{{\mathrm{CH}}_4\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{carbonate})}{{\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}$
4. Hence, option A is correct. Treating Sodium acetate with Soda lime produces Methane.