School laboratory preparation of alkanes

In a school laboratory, alkanes may be prepared from the reaction of a sodium alkanoate with solid sodium hydroxide /soda lime.

Chemical equation:

Sodium alkanoate+soda lime -> alkane +Sodium carbonate

C₂ H_2n+2 COONa(s)   +NaOH(s)  ->  C₂ H_2n+2 + Na2CO3(s)

The “H” in NaOH is transferred/moves to the CnH2n+1 in CnH2n+1COONa(s) to form C₂ H_2n+2.

Examples

1. Methane is prepared from the heating of a mixture of sodium ethanoate and soda lime and collecting over water

2. Sodium ethanoate  +  soda lime->

          methane + Sodium carbonate

   CH3COONa(s) +NaOH(s) ->C H4  +  Na2CO3(s)

   The “H” in NaOH is transferred/moves to the CH3 in CH3COONa(s) to form CH4.

   2. Ethane is prepared from the heating of a mixture of sodium propanoate and soda lime and collecting over water

   Sodium propanoate +  soda lime->

     ethane+Sodium carbonate

   CH3 CH2COONa(s) +NaOH(s)->CH3 CH3 +Na2CO3(s)

   The “H” in NaOH is transferred/moves to the CH3 CH2 in CH3 CH2COONa (s) to form CH3 CH3

   

write the balanced chemical equation for the above reaction