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  4. A mixture of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde on heating with aqueous NaOH solution gives

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Q. A mixture of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde on heating with aqueous $NaOH$ solution gives

Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Solution:

Both compounds do not contain $\alpha-$ hydrogen hence undergo Crossed Cannizzaro reaction.
Initially $OH^{-}$ attacks at the carbonyl carbon of $HCHO$ than that of $PhCHO$ because carbonyl carbon of $HCHO$ is
(i) more electrophilic
(ii) less sterically hindered to give hydroxyalkoxide which acts as hydride donor in next step to give sodium formate.
$C_6H_5CHO + HCHO \xrightarrow{NaOH} HCOONa + C_6H_5CH_2OH $