Question

A mixture of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde when treated with 50% NaOH yields:

• A. sodium benzoate and sodium formate
• B. sodium formate and benzyl alcohol
• C. sodium benzoate and methyl alcohol
• D. benzyl alcohol and methyl alcohol

Answer 1

The correct option is B sodium formate and benzyl alcohol

Benzaldehyde and formaldehyde, when treated with $50\%$ $NaOH$, yields Sodium formate and benzyl alcohol. This is called cannizzaro reaction.

Here the smaller aldehyde gets oxidized into sodium formate while the larger aldehyde gets reduced into an alcohol. (Since the formaldehyde is more reactive than benzaldehyde)

So the answer is B.