Acetylene is produced by carrying out the electrolysis of potassium salt of

$\begin{array}{l}\mathrm{HCCOOK}+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to \mathrm{HC}\equiv \mathrm{CH}+2{\mathrm{CO}}_2+2\mathrm{KOH}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\\ \overline{) \overline{) }}\\ \mathrm{HCCOOK}\end{array}$

Acetylene can be created using Kolbe's electrolysis by electrolyzing an aqueous solution of sodium/potassium maleate or fumarate.