Question

Benzene carbaldehyde is reacted with concentrated $NaOH$ solution to give the products $A$ and $B$. The product $A$ can be used food preservative and the product $B$ is an aromatic hydroxy compound where $OH$ gorup is linked to $s{p}^3$ hybridised carbon atom next to Benzene ring. The products $A$ and $B$ are respectively,

• A. Sodium benzoate and phenol
• B. Sodium benzoate and phenyl methanol
• C. Sodium benzoate and cresol
• D. Sodium benzoate and picric acid

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

When benzene carbaldehyde reacts with $NaOH$, it proceeds via Cannizzaro reaction. It is a disproportionation reaction in which half of the molecules of aldehyde are oxidised and other half are reduced.