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What is the final product when phenyl acetonitrile reacts with two moles of water in the presence of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) at 1000C for three hours? |
Phenylacetate Phenylacetic acid Methyl phenyl ether Benzoic acid |
Phenylacetic acid |
The correct answer is option 2. Phenylacetic acid. When phenylacetonitrile \((C_6H_5CH_2CN)\) reacts with two moles of water in the presence of sulfuric acid \((H_2SO_4)\) at elevated temperatures (100°C) for three hours, it undergoes hydrolysis to form phenylacetic acid \((C_6H_5CH_2COOH)\) as the final product. Here is the hydrolysis reaction process: Formation of Phenylacetic Acid \((C_6H_5CH_2COOH)\): Phenylacetonitrile reacts with water \((H_2O)\) in the presence of sulfuric acid \((H_2SO_4)\). The nitrile group \((-CN)\) undergoes hydrolysis, where water adds across the carbon-nitrogen triple bond (C≡N), yielding a carboxylic acid group \((-COOH)\). The product obtained from this reaction is phenylacetic acid.
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