Question

When HCHO is treated with $ {{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}CHO $ in presence of KOH, the product are:

• A. $ HCOONa $ and $ {{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}C{{H}_{2}}OH $
• B. $ C{{H}_{3}}OH $ and $ {{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}COONa $
• C. $ C{{H}_{3}}OH $ and $ {{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}COONa $
• D. $ {{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}C{{H}_{2}}OH $ and $ {{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}COONa $

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

This reaction is also called crossed-Cannizzaro reaction. In this reaction, formaldehyde is oxidised to acid salt while benzaldehyde is reduced to benzyl alcohol.) $ HCHO+{{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}CHO\xrightarrow{dil.\,KOH} $ $ \underset{\begin{smallmatrix} \text{Potassium} \\ \,\,\,\text{formate} \end{smallmatrix}}{\mathop{HCOOK}}\,+\underset{\text{Benzyl}\,\text{alcohol}}{\mathop{{{C}_{6}}{{H}_{5}}C{{H}_{2}}OH}}\, $