Answer to Question #165349 in Organic Chemistry for Rashinda mz

Question

Benzyl alcohol (C₆H₅CH₂OH) and benzoic acid may be obtained from benzaldehyde by the reaction with potassium hydroxide, using the method described below.

Benzaldehyde (26.5g) was added to a concentrated solution of potassium hydroxide in a corked bottle. The mixture was shaken and allowed to stand for several hours. Water was added and the mixture extracted with two separate portions of ether. The ether extracts were combined, dried and distilled to give a liquid product A. The aqueous layer was acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid and the white precipitate B filtered off by suction and purified. 10g of product A and 12g of product B were formed.

(a) Which of the two product A & B is benzyl alcohol? Write an equation for the reaction of benzaldehyde with potassium hydroxide and comment on the nature of this reaction.

(b) Why do you think water was added to the reaction mixture before the extraction with ether?

Answer 1

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