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.
Explanation
(a) CH(_3)COONa(_{(s)}) + NaOH(_{(S)}) —-> Na(_2)CO(_{3(S)}) + CH(_{4(g)})
(soda lime)
(b) Sodalime is simply the iron deliquescent form of sodium hydroxide and this is necessary to keep the medium of reaction dry.