State one relevant reason for
Soda lime is preferred to sodium hydroxide in the laboratory preparation of methane.

Explanation

To answer the question of why soda lime is preferred to sodium hydroxide in the laboratory preparation of methane, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Reaction**:
The laboratory preparation of methane involves the reaction of sodium acetate (CH3COONa) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the presence of calcium oxide (CaO). The reaction can be represented as:
\[
\text{CH}_3\text{COONa} + \text{NaOH} \xrightarrow{\text{CaO}} \text{CH}_4 + \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3
...