Question

How will you obtain methane and ethane from acetic acid?

Answer 1

Answer:

Acetic acid reacts with NaOH to form sodium acetate.

This sodium acetate on distillation with soda lime gives methane.

This sodium acetate on electrolysis gives ethane.

Explanation:

Acetic acid reacts with NaOH to form sodium acetate.

CH3COOH + NaOH → CH3COONa + H2O

Acetic acid                    Sodium acetate

This sodium acetate on distillation with soda lime gives methane.

CH3COONa + NaOH → CH4 + Na2CO3

Sodium acetate             methane

This sodium acetate on electrolysis gives ethane

2CH3COONa + 2H2O → C2H6 + 2NaOH + H2 + CO2

sodium acetate                methane