1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. A mixture of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde on heating with aqueous NaOH solution gives

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

 2819  214 Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Report Error

Solution:

Both compounds do not contain hydrogen hence undergo Crossed Cannizzaro reaction.
Initially attacks at the carbonyl carbon of than that of because carbonyl carbon of is
(i) more electrophilic
(ii) less sterically hindered to give hydroxyalkoxide which acts as hydride donor in next step to give sodium formate.