Question

Cannizaro's reaction is:- (a) Reduction. (b)disproportionation reaction (c) oxidation (d)Ion- exchange reaction

Answer 1



Cannizzaro first accomplished this transformation in 1853, when he obtained benzyl alcohol and potassium benzoate from the treatment of benzaldehyde with potash(potassium carbonate). More typically, the reaction would be conducted with sodium or potassium hydroxide:

2 C6H5CHO + KOH → C6H5CH2OH + C6H5COOK

The oxidation product is a salt of a carboxylic acid and the reduction product is an alcohol.[3]