Methane is obtained when a powdered mixture of anhydrous sodium ethanoate and soda-lime is heated in a hard glass test tube. (a) Write an equation for the r...
Question 1 Report
Methane is obtained when a powdered mixture of anhydrous sodium ethanoate and soda-lime is heated in a hard glass test tube.
(a) Write an equation for the reaction.
b) Explain briefly why soda-lime is preferred to sodium hydroxide for the preparation.
Answer Details
(a) Equation
The soda-lime supplies sodium hydroxide, which reacts with the anhydrous sodium ethanoate to release methane: \[CH_3COONa_{(s)} + NaOH_{(s)} \rightarrow CH_{4(g)} + Na_2CO_{3(s)}\]
(b) Why soda-lime is preferred to sodium hydroxide
Soda-lime (a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide) is preferred because solid sodium hydroxide alone is strongly deliquescent and corrosive: when heated it melts, absorbs moisture and attacks (corrodes) the glass test tube, which may crack. Soda-lime is a dry, granular, easier-to-handle solid that does not fuse or attack the glass in the same way, so it gives a safer and more convenient preparation.
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