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  4. A carbonyl compound reacts with hydrogen cyanide to form cyanohydrin which on hydrolysis forms a racemic mixture of α-hydroxy acid. The carbonyl compound is

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Q. A carbonyl compound reacts with hydrogen cyanide to form cyanohydrin which on hydrolysis forms a racemic mixture of $\alpha$-hydroxy acid. The carbonyl compound is

AIPMTAIPMT 2006Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Solution:

Acetaldehyde reacts with hydrogen cyanide $( HCN )$ to form cyanohydrin $\left( CH _{3} CH ( OH ) CN \right)$ which on hydrolysis forms a racemic mixture of $\alpha$ - hydroxy acid $\left( CH _{3} CH ( OH ) COOH \right)$ As the cyanohydrin of acetaldehyde contains chiral centre so we will get racemic mixture.