JEE Main 2026 — Hydrocarbons Question with Solution
JEE Main 2026 (06 April Shift 1)
Question
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Methane can be prepared by decarboxylation of sodium ethanoate, Kolbe's electrolysis of sodium acetate and reaction of with water.
Statement II: Methane cannot be prepared from unsaturated hydrocarbons and by Wurtz reaction.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below
Statement I: Methane can be prepared by decarboxylation of sodium ethanoate, Kolbe's electrolysis of sodium acetate and reaction of with water.
Statement II: Methane cannot be prepared from unsaturated hydrocarbons and by Wurtz reaction.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below
Choose an option
Show full solutionCorrect option: D
Correct answer
DStatement I is false but Statement II is true
Step-by-step explanation
Statement I is false because Kolbe's electrolysis of sodium acetate produces ethane, not methane. The reaction is: . Decarboxylation of sodium ethanoate and the reaction of with water do produce methane.
Statement II is true because the simplest unsaturated hydrocarbon is ethene (), which upon hydrogenation yields ethane, meaning methane cannot be prepared from unsaturated hydrocarbons. Additionally, the Wurtz reaction involves the coupling of two alkyl halide molecules to form an alkane with at least two carbon atoms (), so methane cannot be prepared by this method.
Therefore, Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
Answer: Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Statement II is true because the simplest unsaturated hydrocarbon is ethene (), which upon hydrogenation yields ethane, meaning methane cannot be prepared from unsaturated hydrocarbons. Additionally, the Wurtz reaction involves the coupling of two alkyl halide molecules to form an alkane with at least two carbon atoms (), so methane cannot be prepared by this method.
Therefore, Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
Answer: Statement I is false but Statement II is true
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This is a previous-year question from JEE Main 2026, covering the Hydrocarbons chapter of Chemistry. PrepSharp catalogues every PYQ from JEE Main with a verified answer key and step-by-step solution prepared by IIT alumni — so you can search by chapter, topic or year and revise efficiently.