Question

Formic acid reacts with $PC{l}_5$ to form

• A. methyl chloride
• B. acetyl chloride
• C. formyl chloride
• D. carbon monoxide and hydrogen chioride

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Formic acid reacts with $PC{l}_5$ to give carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride.
$HCOOH+PC{l}_5\to \underset{\text{ unstable }}{[HCOCl]}\to CO+HCl$