Question

On reduction of glycolic acid with $HI$, the product formed is:

• A. acetic acid
• B. iodo aectic acid
• C. formic acid
• D. none of these

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

acetic acid

$\underset{Glycolicacid}{HOOC-C{H}_{2}OH}\stackrel{HI}{\to }\underset{Aceticacid}{HOOC-C{H}_3}$
$HI$ reduces $C{H}_{2}OH$ to $C{H}_3$ but $HI+P$ reduces both $-COOH$ and $-C{H}_{2}OH$ to $-C{H}_3$.