Question

Which of the following compounds is the hydrolysis product of methane?
(A) $CaC{{N}_{2}}$
(B) $Ca{{C}_{2}}$
(C) $A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}$
(D) $SiC$

Answer 1

To solve this question we should know the meaning of hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which a molecule of water ruptures two or more chemical bonds. The reaction in which methane is produced takes place at room temperature.

Complete step by step solution:
$A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}$ is a carbide of aluminium. It is pale yellow in colour and also sometimes is found in the form of brown crystals. $A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}$ is stable up to $1400$ degree centigrade. When $A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}$ decomposes it forms methane.
The decomposition reaction of aluminium carbide is shown below:
Hydrolysis of aluminium carbide produces methane gas, this reaction takes place at room temperature and is rapidly accelerated by heating. The reaction involved is shown below:
$A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}+{{H}_{2}}O\to Al{{(OH)}_{3}}+C{{H}_{4}}\uparrow$
Balanced chemical reaction:
$A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}+12{{H}_{2}}O\to 4Al{{(OH)}_{3}}+3C{{H}_{4}}\uparrow$

Hence the correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
Methane is a colourless and odourless gas. Methane is used as fuel to make heat and light. Organic chemicals are also manufactured with the help of methane.
The formation of methane is easy, it can be formed by the decay of the natural materials which is common in landfills, marshes etc. It is a very powerful greenhouse gas and one of the main ingredients in natural gas.

Note: We should know the applications of $A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}$. Aluminium carbide is used as an abrasive in the high-speed cutting tools. The hardness of aluminium carbide is approximately the same as topaz. $A{{l}_{4}}{{C}_{3}}$ Particles finely dispersed in the matrix which lowers the tendency of the material to creep, this usually take place when aluminium carbide combines with silicon carbide particle.