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why methane can't be prepared by kolbe's electrolytic method?

why methane can't be prepared by kolbe's electrolytic method?

Grade:11

4 Answers

SAGAR SINGH - IIT DELHI
878 Points
13 years ago

Dear student,

Kolbe's electolytic method is suitable for the preparation of symmetrical alkanes that is alkanes contains even no. of carbons.So methane has only one carbon.Hence it cannot be prepared by Kolbe's electolytic method.

 

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Ranganatha swamy b v
13 Points
5 years ago
Because electrolysis takes place with minimum no of alkanoicacid salts therefore methane cannot be prepared
ankit singh
askIITians Faculty 614 Points
3 years ago
methane could not be prepared by Kolbe electrolysis method as there is formation of alkyl radicle and two alkyl radicle combine to form alkane .but in methane there is only one carbon so it is not prepared
Srinivasan S
27 Points
3 years ago
Kolbe’s electrolysis reaction involves 2 steps:
 
R-COO- ------> R. (alkyl free radical) + CO2   (decarboxylation of an alkanoic acid having n  carbons to give an alkyl radical having n-1 carbons; min. being 1, that is CH3  radical)
then the radical dimerizes to an alkane,
2R. -------> R-R (an alkane having 2(n-1) carbons).
 
The lowest alkane formed itself has a minimum of 2 carbons (ethane onwards) for the reaction to occur. Since, Methane has only 1 carbon in total, this can’t be formed by Kolbe’s process.
 
 
 

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