Which alkane is produced when sodium salt of butanoic acid is heated with soda lime?

Options

A. `CH_(3)CH_(3)`
B. `CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(3)`
C. `CH_(4)`
D. `CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(3)`

Explanation

To determine which alkane is produced when the sodium salt of butanoic acid is heated with soda lime, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the sodium salt of butanoic acid
Butanoic acid has the formula \( \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{COOH} \). When it forms a sodium salt, the hydrogen of the carboxylic acid group (\(-COOH\)) is replaced by a sodium ion (\( \text{Na}^+ \)). Thus, the sodium salt of butanoic acid is represented as:
\[ \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{COO}^- \text{Na}^+ \quad \text{(or simply)} \quad \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{COONa} \]

### Step 2: Understand what soda lime is
Soda lime is a mixture of sodium hydroxide (\( \text{NaOH} \)) and calcium hydroxide (\( \text{Ca(OH)}_2 \)). It is commonly used in decarboxylation reactions.

### Step 3: Recognize the reaction type
When the sodium salt of butanoic acid is heated with soda lime, it undergoes a decarboxylation reaction. In this process, carbon dioxide (\( \text{CO}_2 \)) is removed from the sodium salt.

### Step 4: Write the reaction
The decarboxylation of the sodium salt of butanoic acid can be represented as:
\[ \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{COO}^- \text{Na}^+ + \text{NaOH} \xrightarrow{\text{heat}} \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 + \text{C}_3\text{H}_8 \]
Here, \( \text{C}_3\text{H}_8 \) is the alkane produced.

### Step 5: Identify the alkane produced
The alkane produced from the decarboxylation of sodium butanoate is propane, which has the formula \( \text{C}_3\text{H}_8 \).

### Final Answer
The alkane produced when the sodium salt of butanoic acid is heated with soda lime is **propane**.

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