Question

what happens when sodium acetate is heated with soda lime

Answer 1

When sodium acetate is treated with soda lime, decarboxylation takes place and CO2 is eliminated from the sodium acetate . The chemical reaction is as follows — CH3COONa  +  NaOH -->  CH4  +  Na2CO3

Answer 2

Sodium acetate in the presence of soda lime and heat, leads to the formation of methane gas and sodium carbonate. This type of reaction is called as decarboxylation reaction and as the name suggests there is a loss of a molecule of carbon dioxide from sodium acetate.This then facilitates in the formation of methane gas.

Methane gas is used as natural fuel.

The reaction which takes place is as follows:

$CH_3COONa$ + $NaOH$ $\rightarrow$ $CH_4$ + $Na_2CO_3$