Hydrolsis of an ester gives a carboxylic acid which on Kolbe's electrolysis yields ethane. The ester is
Hydrolsis of an ester gives a carboxylic acid which on Kolbe's electrolysis yields ethane. The ester is
ethyl methanoate
methyl ethanoate
methyl methanoate
methyl propanoate
Solution
Ethane is obtained by the electrolysis of sodium or potassium salt of ethanoic acid $\left(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{COOH}ight)$, hence the ester must be ethanoate $\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{COOR}$.