Which of the following compounds is the major hydrocarbon product obtained at the anode during the K — Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Potassium succinate is the salt of a dicarboxylic acid ($KOOC-CH_2-CH_2-COOK$). During Kolbe's electrolysis, it ionizes and undergoes oxidation at the anode to form a diradical, which quickly loses two molecules of $CO_2$ to form ethene ($CH_2=CH_2$). This is a standard method to prepare alkenes.