Question

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

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

Answer 1

The correct option is B sodium benzoate and phenyl methanol

Benzene carbaldehyde (benzaldehyde) is reacted with concentrated $NaOH$ solution. It undergoes cannizzaro reaction where one molecule is oxidised to carboxylate ion and other molecule is reduced to alcohol. The products $A$ and $B$ respectively are sodium benzoate and phenyl methanol. The product $A$ can be used as food preservative and the product $B$ is an aromatic hydroxy compound where $OH$ group is linked to $s{p}^3$ hybridised carbon atom next to benzene ring. Hence, the option $\left(B\right)$ is the correct answer.