A mixture of Benzaldehyde and Formaldehyde on heating with aqueous NaO...
Reaction between Benzaldehyde and Formaldehyde with aqueous NaOH solution
Introduction:Benzaldehyde and Formaldehyde are both aldehydes. Aldehydes are organic compounds that have a carbonyl group (C=O) at the end of the carbon chain. They are reactive compounds and undergo various chemical reactions. One of such reactions is with aqueous NaOH solution.
Reaction:The reaction between Benzaldehyde and Formaldehyde with aqueous NaOH solution results in the formation of Benzyl alcohol and Sodium formate.
Explanation:When Benzaldehyde and Formaldehyde are heated with aqueous NaOH solution, they undergo Cannizzaro’s reaction. Cannizzaro’s reaction is a self-oxidation and reduction reaction that takes place in the presence of a strong base. In this reaction, one molecule of aldehyde is oxidized to a carboxylic acid and the other molecule is reduced to an alcohol.
The reaction can be represented as follows:
In the above reaction, Benzaldehyde is oxidized to Benzoic acid and Formaldehyde is reduced to Benzyl alcohol.
The reaction also results in the formation of Sodium formate. Sodium formate is formed due to the oxidation of Formaldehyde to formic acid and its subsequent reaction with NaOH.
The reaction can be represented as follows:
Sodium formate is a white crystalline solid that is soluble in water. It is used in the textile and leather industries as a reducing agent and a mordant.
Conclusion:The reaction between Benzaldehyde and Formaldehyde with aqueous NaOH solution results in the formation of Benzyl alcohol and Sodium formate. Cannizzaro’s reaction takes place in the presence of a strong base and involves the oxidation of one molecule of aldehyde to a carboxylic acid and the reduction of the other molecule to an alcohol.