define decarboxylation and give an example.

Decarboxylation: It is chemical reaction in which the carboxyl group(-COOH) is removed from a molecule. In other words, the decarboxylation is a reaction of usually the carboxylic acids, for removing a carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) from the carbon chain.

For, Ex: R-COOH (a carboxylic acid) ---> R-H + CO₂

or, R-COO-Na ( sod. salt of the acid) + NaOH----> R-H + Na₂CO₃