When a concentrated aqueous solution of a mixture of sodium salts of two monocarboxylic acids is subjected to electrolysis , ethane, propane and butane are liberated at the anode. Write the structures and names of the two starting sodium salts.

Explanation

Ethane may be produced from two `CH_3COONa` molecules , propane from 1 `CH_3COONa` molecule and one `CH_3CH_2COONa` molecule and butane `(CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3)` from 2 `CH_3CH_2COONa` molecules . Evidently ethane, propane & butane may be obtained from the mixture of sodium ethanoate `(CH_3COONa)` & sodium propionate `(CH_3 CH_2COONa)`.