In the Kolbe electrolysis of sodium propanoate, the products $\mathrm{X}$ and $\mathrm{Y}$ are formed at respected electrodes. What are $\mathrm{X}$ and $\mathrm{Y}$ ?

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Aicharya · Accepted Answer

$2 \mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CO} \overline{\mathrm{O}^2} \mathrm{Na} \xrightarrow[2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}]{\text { electrolysis }}$ $ \mathrm{CH}_3 \mathrm{CH}_2-\mathrm{CH}_2 \mathrm{CH}_3+2 \mathrm{CO}_2+\mathrm{H}_2+2 \mathrm{NaOH} $ At anode (oxidation):

At cathode (reduction): $ \begin{aligned} & 2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}+2 \mathrm{e}^{-} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{OH}^{-}+2 \mathrm{H}^{+} \\ & 2 \mathrm{H}^{+} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}_2(\mathrm{Y}) \\ & 2 \mathrm{Na}^{+}+2 \mathrm{OH}^{-} \rightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaOH} \end{aligned} $

In the Kolbe electrolysis of sodium propanoate, the products $\mathrm{X}$ and $\mathrm{Y}$ are formed at…

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