Question

Sodium ethanoate on heating with soda lime gives ‘X’. Electrolysis of aqueous solution of sodium ethanoate gives ‘Y’. ‘X’ and ‘Y’ respectively are:

• A. Methane and Ethane
• B. Methane and Methane
• C. Ethane and Methane
• D. Ethane and Ethane

Hint:

Sodium ethanoate forms methane (X) by decarboxylation and ethane (Y) via Kolbe's reaction.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the products 'X' and 'Y' formed from the reactions described, we need to analyze two processes involving sodium ethanoate.

Step 1: Heating Sodium Ethanoate with Soda Lime

The reaction of sodium ethanoate with soda lime (a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide) is a decarboxylation reaction. The general reaction for decarboxylation of a carboxylate salt is: 

\(RCOONa + \text{NaOH (soda lime)} \rightarrow RH + Na_2CO_3\)

In this case, sodium ethanoate \((\text{CH}_3\text{COONa})\) reacts with soda lime to produce methane \((\text{CH}_4)\) and sodium carbonate \((\text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3)\).

Step 2: Electrolysis of Aqueous Sodium Ethanoate Solution

This process involves the Kolbe electrolysis where carboxylate ions are oxidized. The reaction is represented as follows:

The carboxylate ion \((\text{RCOO}^-)\) undergoes electrolysis to form an alkane. In this case:

\(2 \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^- + 2 \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_2\text{H}_6 + 2 \text{CO}_2 + H_2 + 2 \text{OH}^-\text{ (using sodium ethanoate)}\)

This results in the formation of ethane \((\text{C}_2\text{H}_6)\) and other by-products.

Conclusion:

From the above analysis, the products 'X' and 'Y' of the respective reactions are:

• 'X': Methane \((\text{CH}_4)\), formed by heating sodium ethanoate with soda lime.
• 'Y': Ethane \((\text{C}_2\text{H}_6)\), produced by the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of sodium ethanoate.

Thus, the correct option is Methane and Ethane.