Concept:Dry distillation of calcium salts of carboxylic acids forces the molecules to decompose, ejecting calcium carbonate and fusing the remaining alkyl groups around a newly formed carbonyl center.
Formula:$$ (CH_3COO)_2Ca \xrightarrow{\Delta} CH_3-CO-CH_3 + CaCO_3 $$
Solution:- When Calcium acetate is subjected to strong heat in the absence of a solvent, the salt breaks down.
- The structural framework loses \( CaCO_3 \).
- The two methyl groups (\( CH_3 \)) remaining from the two acetate ions combine with the remaining carbonyl (\( C=O \)) group, producing Acetone (\( CH_3-CO-CH_3 \)).
Why other options are incorrect:Calcium formate dry distillation produces formaldehyde. Ethyl acetate and acetic acid are liquids/esters that do not decompose via dry distillation to form ketones in this manner.
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