Question

What happens when a carbonyl compound is treated with zinc amalgam and concentrated hydrochloric acid? Give the chemical equation and write the name of the reaction.

Answer 1

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{O\phantom{.....................................}}\\
||\phantom{.....................................}\\
\ce{CH3 - C - H + 4[H] ->[Zn-Hg (HCl conc.)][]\underset{Ethane}{CH3CH3} + H2O}
\end{array}\]

Name of the reaction is the Clemmensen reduction.