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Question
Explain the Cross-Cannizzaro reaction.
Chemical Equations/Structures
Explain
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Solution
When a mixture of formaldehyde and non-enolisable aldehyde (aldehyde with no α-hydrogen) is treated with a strong base, formaldehyde is oxidized to formic acid while the other non-enolisable is reduced to alcohol. Formic acid forms sodium formate with NaOH. On acidification, sodium formate is converted into formic acid.
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