How does CaO react with NaOH? [closed]








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$\ce{CaO}$ being a *basic oxide* should not react with $\ce{NaOH}$.
Then how come decarboxylation takes place using soda lime? I am confused.




Sodalime when used in decarboxylation, the reaction does not take place between NaOH and CaO. In Oakwood reaction, Carboxyl group is the one which gets reduced by NaOH being base.


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The decarboxylation using soda lime does not involve any reaction between $\ce{NaOH}$ and $\ce{CaO}$. 


It is in fact the $\ce{NaOH}$ which reacts with the carboxylic acid to form the alkane, alongwith the formation of $\ce{Na\_2CO\_3}$.


$\ce{CaO}$ is simply used to make the reagent easier to handle. $\ce{NaOH}$ is highly hygroscopic and easily forms a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution when exposed to air. Sodalime does not absorb moisture that easily.


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