Question

How are the following compounds formed by distillation of calcium salts of their carboxylic acids?

(i) Formaldehyde,
(ii) Acetaldehyde,
(iii) Acetone,
(iv) Butan-2-one,
(v) Cyclopentanone,
(vi) Benzaldehyde

Answer 1

(i) Calcium formate alone is heated.

(ii) By dry distillation of calcium acetate and calcium formate.

(iii) Dry distillation of calcium acetate alone.

(iii) Dry distillation of calcium acetate alone.

(iv) Calcium acetate and calcium propionate are distilled together.

(v) Cyclic ketones are formed when calcium salts of dibasic acids are heated.

(vi) By dry distillation of a mixture of calcium benzoate and calcium formate.