Question

When acetaldehyde is treated with dilute NaOH, the following reaction is observed.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{2CH3 - CHO ->[dil.NaOH] CH3 - CH - CH2 - CHO}\\
\phantom{...............}|\\
\phantom{.................}\ce{OH}
\end{array}\]

1. What are the functional groups in the product?
2. Can another product be formed during the same reaction? (Deduce the answer by doing atomic audit of reactant and product).
3. Is this an addition reaction or condensation reaction?

Answer 1

1. There are two functional groups in the product: –CHO and –OH.
2. No other product can be formed in the same reaction.
3. This is an addition reaction.