Question

Number of alkanes obtained on electrolysis of a mixture of \(CH_3​COONa\) and \(C_2​H_5​COONa\) is___.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3

Given Reactions: 

1. The reaction of sodium acetate (\( \text{CH}_3\text{COONa} \)) results in the formation of a methyl radical (\( \cdot \text{CH}_3 \)):
   \[ \text{CH}_3\text{COONa} \rightarrow \cdot \text{CH}_3 \]
2. The reaction of sodium propionate (\( \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{COONa} \)) leads to the formation of an ethyl radical (\( \cdot \text{C}_2\text{H}_5 \)):
   \[ \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{COONa} \rightarrow \cdot \text{C}_2\text{H}_5 \]
3. Two ethyl radicals combine to form butane (\( \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_3 \)):
   \[ 2\text{C}_2\text{H}_5 \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_3 \]
4. Two methyl radicals combine to form ethane (\( \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_3 \)):
   \[ 2\cdot \text{CH}_3 \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_3 \]
5. The combination of a methyl and an ethyl radical forms propene (\( \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_3 \)):
   \[ \cdot \text{CH}_3 + \cdot \text{C}_2\text{H}_5 \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_3 \]

Correct Answer: The correct answer is 3.

Answer 2

\[ \text{CH}_3\text{COONa} \longrightarrow \cdot \text{CH}_3 \]
\[ \text{C}_2\text{H}_5\text{COONa} \longrightarrow \cdot \text{C}_2\text{H}_5 \]
\[ 2 \cdot \text{C}_2\text{H}_5 \longrightarrow \text{CH}_3 - \text{CH}_2 - \text{CH}_2 - \text{CH}_3 \]
\[ 2 \cdot \text{CH}_3 \longrightarrow \text{CH}_3 - \text{CH}_3 \]
\[ \cdot \text{CH}_3 + \cdot \text{C}_2\text{H}_5 \longrightarrow \text{CH}_3 - \text{CH}_2 - \text{CH}_3 \]