Decarboxylation
Carboxylic acids lose carbon dioxide to form hydrocarbons when their
sodium salts are heated with sodalime (NaOH and CaO in the ratio of
3 : 1) The reaction is known as decarboxylation Alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids also undergo decarboxylation
on electrolysis of their aqueous solutions and form hydrocarbons having
twice the number of carbon atoms present in the alkyl group of the acid The reaction is known as Kolbe electrolysis (Unit 9, Class XI)