Question

If ethanoic acid is to be prepared by hydrolysis of alkyl nitriles, which of the following can be the compound to be hydrolyzed:

• A. $C{H}_{3}CN$
• B. $HCN$
• C. $C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}CN$
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is A $C{H}_{3}CN$

Converting the nitrile into a carboxylic acid
There are two ways of doing this, both of which involve reacting the carbon-nitrogen triple bond with water. This is described as hydrolysis.
Acid hydrolysis:
The nitrile is heated under reflux with a dilute acid such as dilute hydrochloric acid. A carboxylic acid is formed. For example, starting from ethanenitrile you would get ethanoic acid.
Base hydrolysis:
The nitrile is heated under reflux with an alkali such as sodium hydroxide solution.
Mechanism:
The reaction passes through an amide intermediate.
Both acid and base catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction.