Removal of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a compound is called ?

Decarboxylation is the process in which a molecule of carbon dioxide (CO₂) is removed from an organic compound. The name comes from the prefix “de–” meaning removal, and “carboxyl,” referring to the –COOH group. It is an important reaction in organic chemistry, especially involving carboxylic acids and β-keto acids.

When a compound undergoes decarboxylation, the carbon atom of the carboxyl group is released as CO₂, leaving behind a hydrocarbon or another organic compound with one less carbon atom. For example, when sodium acetate is heated with soda lime, methane is formed, and carbon dioxide is released. This type of reaction is known as soda lime decarboxylation.

Decarboxylation can occur either thermally or enzymatically. In the laboratory, it is often achieved by heating carboxylic acids with catalysts such as copper or soda lime. In biological systems, decarboxylation plays a crucial role in metabolic pathways like the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), where carboxylic acids lose carbon dioxide during energy production.

The reverse of this process is carboxylation, where CO₂ is added to a compound instead of being removed. This helps distinguish the two terms: carboxylation adds CO₂, while decarboxylation removes it.

Common examples of decarboxylation include the conversion of acetoacetic acid to acetone and the transformation of amino acids into amines with the release of carbon dioxide. These reactions are significant in both organic synthesis and biochemistry.

Decarboxylation reactions help chemists reduce the carbon chain length of molecules and are used in preparing simpler hydrocarbons or intermediates for further reactions. It is a fundamental concept that connects organic reaction mechanisms and metabolic processes.