Soda lime is used extensively in decarboxylation reaction to obtain alkanes. Soda lime is

Options

A. `NaOH`
B. `NaOH and CaO`
C. `CaO`
D. `Na_(2)CO_(3)`

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Soda Lime**: Soda lime is a mixture of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and calcium oxide (CaO). It is commonly used in various chemical reactions, including decarboxylation.

2. **Decarboxylation Reaction**: Decarboxylation is the process of removing a carboxyl group (-COOH) from a carboxylic acid, resulting in the formation of an alkane. The general reaction can be represented as:
\[ RCOONa + NaOH \xrightarrow{\text{soda lime}} RH + Na2CO3 + H2O \]
Here, \(RCOONa\) is the sodium salt of a carboxylic acid, and \(RH\) is the resulting alkane.

3. **Role of Soda Lime**: In the presence of soda lime, the sodium salt of the carboxylic acid undergoes heating. The hydroxide ion (OH⁻) from NaOH acts as a base, facilitating the removal of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the carboxyl group.

4. **Formation of Alkanes**: The removal of CO₂ leads to the formation of an alkane. The overall process can be summarized as:
- The carboxyl group is converted into an alkane by the elimination of CO₂ and the formation of water.

5. **Final Products**: The final products of the decarboxylation reaction using soda lime are the alkane (RH), sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), and water (H₂O).

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, soda lime is effectively used in decarboxylation reactions to produce alkanes from sodium salts of carboxylic acids.

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