1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. The Kolbes electrolysis proceeds via

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. The Kolbes electrolysis proceeds via

VMMC MedicalVMMC Medical 2011

Solution:

The Kolbes electrolysis proceeds via free radical mechanism, e.g., when sodium propionate is electrolyzed, n-butane, ethane, ethylene are obtained. The propionate ion discharges at the anode to form free radicals. $ {{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}CO{{O}^{-}}\xrightarrow{{}}{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}CO{{O}^{\centerdot }}+{{e}^{-}} $ $ {{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}CO{{O}^{\centerdot }}\xrightarrow{{}}{{C}_{2}}H_{5}^{\centerdot }+C{{O}_{2}} $ $ 2{{C}_{2}}H_{5}^{\centerdot }\xrightarrow{{}}{{C}_{4}}{{H}_{10}} $ $ {{C}_{2}}H_{5}^{\centerdot }+{{C}_{2}}H_{5}^{\centerdot }\xrightarrow{{}}{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{4}}+{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{6}} $