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Question: When a mixture of calcium benzoate and calcium acetate is dry distilled, the resulting compound is ...

When a mixture of calcium benzoate and calcium acetate is dry distilled, the resulting compound is
A. Acetophenone
B. Benzaldehyde
C. Benzophenone
D. Acetaldehyde

Explanation

Solution

Two molecules of different esters react to form a compound with ketone functional group thereby forming calcium carbonate as a by-product. In the first step dehydration occurs then in the other steps, the heating effect of calcium salts occurs.
In the above reaction, calcium benzoate is an ester with a benzene ring as a functional group and a calcium molecule. Similarly, calcium acetate is an ester with a straight chain of two carbon molecules and a calcium molecule.

Complete step by step solution:
Esters are formed as a result of reaction between hydrocarbons with alcohol functional groups and hydrocarbons with carboxylic acid functional groups. This type of reaction is called a condensation reaction as a water molecule is eliminated out of this reaction. This process of formation of ester is called the Esterification reaction.
This reaction is shown below
CH3−CH2−OH+CH3−CH2−COOH→CH3−CH2−COO−CH2−CH3+H2OC{H_3} - C{H_2} - OH + C{H_3} - C{H_2} - COOH \to C{H_3} - C{H_2} - COO - C{H_2} - C{H_3} + {H_2}O
Similarly, in the above question the by-product formed is calcium carbonate (CaCO3)(CaCO_3) as a result of reaction between two esters. As already discussed calcium benzoate is an ester with a benzene ring as a functional group and a calcium molecule and calcium acetate is an ester with a straight chain of two carbon molecules and a calcium molecule. The reaction between the two involves elimination of the compound namely calcium carbonate (CaCO3)(CaCO_3) as a by-product and thus forms a compound with a ketone functional group. The reaction for the same is described below,

Hence, the resultant product formed as a result of dry distillation of the mixture of calcium benzoate and calcium acetate is a compound with a benzene ring, a ketone functional group with two carbon chains.
Thus, from the above mentioned options Acetophenone is a compound with formula (C6H5−CO−CH3)(C_6H_5 - CO - CH_3).

Hence, the correct option for the above question is option (A) Acetophenone

Note: Dry distillation is a process of conversion of solid materials or reactants to gaseous state with the application of heat. Hence, it is a heating process and no chemical change is involved but only the phase of the reactant changes.