Kolbe's electrolysis is a vital method utilized on the sodium or potassium salts of carboxylic acids — Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Kolbe's electrolysis of $R-COONa$ involves anodic oxidation, splitting off $CO_2$ (decarboxylation) to form $R \cdot$ radicals which dimerize to form $R-R$. Two moles of $CO_2$ are evolved per mole of $R-R$. It produces $H_2$ gas at the cathode as a byproduct; it does not consume it.