Question

What is the action of HCN on propanone?

Answer 1

Propanone reacts with HCN:

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{..............................}\ce{CN}\\
\phantom{............................}|\\
\ce{CH3 - C - CH3 + HCN -> CH3 - C - CH3}\\
\phantom{...}||\phantom{...........................}|\phantom{...}\\
\phantom{.}\ce{\underset{\underset{(Acetone)}{(Propanone)}}{O}} \phantom{.....................}\ce{\underset{\underset{(Cyanohydrin)}{(Acetone)}}{OH}}\phantom{}
\end{array}\]