Question

Write a chemical equation to illustrate the following name reaction:

Cannizzaro’s reaction.

Answer 1

The aldehydes, which do not have an α-hydrogen atom, undergo self-oxidation and reduction disproportionation reaction on heating with concentrated alkali to give a molecule of carboxylic acid and a molecule of alcohol, respectively.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{H}\phantom{.......}\ce{H}\phantom{...........................................}\\
\backslash\phantom{.......}\backslash\phantom{.........................................}\\
\ce{= O + = O + Conc{.} NaOH -> \underset{Methanol}{H3C - OH} + \underset{methanoate}{\underset{Sodium}{HCOONa}}}\\
/\phantom{.......}/\phantom{..........................................}\\
\ce{\underset{Formaldehyde}{H\phantom{........}H}}\phantom{............................................}
\end{array}\]