Role of calcium oxide in soda lime decarboxylation Why do we use calcium oxide $\ce{CaO}$ in soda lime decarboxylation?
$$\ce{\underset{sodium acetate}{CH3COONa} + \underset{sodium hydroxide}{NaOH} -&gt;[\Delta][CaO] \underset{methane}{CH4} + \underset{sodium carbonate}{Na2CO3}}$$
It seems as if it is dehydrating agent to keep NaOH dry), but why is the dehydrating agent required if the heat would be enough to dehydrate the container as the temperature is very high (expected to be over 100 °C)?
Calcium oxide is not necessary for carrying out this reaction. It only prevents NaOH from touching the glass of the container where the reaction is done. If a solid mixture of sodium acetate and NaOH is heated to high temperature, some NaOH will attack the glass before reacting with acetate, and make the glass melt down. If NaOH is intimately mixed with CaO, this trouble is avoided. The glassware is saved.