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#decarboxylation

3 public questions tagged with this topic.

Which of the following reagents is used for the decarboxylation of carboxylic acids?

Soda lime (NaOH + CaO) is commonly used to remove the carboxyl group from carboxylic acids, forming hydrocarbons. This follows from NCERT principle where the relation explains the outcome clearly for students in simple steps.

Ref: NCERT Chemistry Textbook for Class XI and XII, Chapter: Some Basic Concepts, Structure of Atom and Periodicity, Topic: Mole concept, atomic models and periodic trends.

Which carboxylic acid produces a ketone with eight carbon atoms when its calcium salt is heated?

Pentanoic acid (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂COOH) forms calcium pentanoate, which decarboxylates to heptan-4-one (CH₃CH₂CH₂COCH₂CH₂CH₃), an eight-carbon ketone.

Ref: NCERT Class 12 Chemistry > Chapter 12: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids > Topic: Reactions due to α-Hydrogen - Aldol, Cannizzaro and Acidity of Carboxylic Acids

Which reaction sequence converts hexanoic acid to pentane?

Step 1: LiAlH₄ reduces hexanoic acid (CH₃(CH₂)₄COOH) to hexan-1-ol (CH₃(CH₂)₅OH). Step 2: Clemmensen-like reduction (not direct) or dehydration followed by hydrogenation could work, but Wolff-Kishner on the derived ketone fits PDF scope.

Ref: NCERT Class 12 Chemistry > Chapter 12: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids > Topic: Physical Properties and Nucleophilic Addition Reactions