Answer the questions on the basis of passage given below:

As aldehydes & ketones possess the carbonyl functional group, they show similar reactions. They exhibit nucleophilic addition reactions, reduction, oxidations, reactions due to ∝-Hydrogen atom, and many other reactions, like Cannizzaro reaction to electrophilic substitution reactions (in case of aromatic aldehydes & ketones). These reactions help in the preparation of a number of important compounds, like acetic acid, vinyl acetate, polymers and in perfume and dye industries. Nucleophilic addition reactions form cyanohydrins. acetals, alcohols and N-substituted derivatives like imine, oxime, semicarbazone, phenylhydrazone & Schiff's base. Reactions due to ∝-hydrogen atoms help in formation of aldols and a, B-unsaturated aldehydes & ketones.

When \(CH_3CHO\) and \(HCHO\) are reacted with \(NaOH(aq)\), one of the product is found to be

. The number of times aldol condensation and number of times Cannizzaro's reaction occur to produce the product

is:

3, 1

The correct answer is option 2. 3, 1.

The reaction is as follows

This can be achieved by the aldol condensation Methanal and Ethanal three times followed by Cannizzaro reaction.

Mechanism: