1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. Addition of hydrogen cyanide to aldehydes and ketones occurs in presence of a base. The role of base is to (i) catalyse the reaction (ii) generate CN -ion (iii) slow down the reaction (iv) to stabilize the cyanohydrins

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Q. Addition of hydrogen cyanide to aldehydes and ketones occurs in presence of a base. The role of base is to
(i) catalyse the reaction
(ii) generate $CN ^{-}$ion
(iii) slow down the reaction
(iv) to stabilize the cyanohydrins

Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Solution:

Aldehydes and ketones react with hydrogen cyanide ( $HCN )$ to yield cyanohydrins. This reaction occurs very slowly with pure $HCN$. Therefore, it is catalysed by a base and the generated cyanide ion $\left( CN ^{-}\right)$being a stronger nucleophile readily adds to carbonyl compounds to yield corresponding cyanohydrins.