Read the following passage given below and answer the question.

Andehydes and ketones undergo nucleophilic addition reactions. A nucleophile attacks the electrophilic carbon atom of polar carbonyl group from perpendicular to plane of \(sp^2\) hybridized orbitals of carbonyl carbon. The hybridization of carbon changes from \(sp^2\) \(sp^3\) and a tetrahedral alkoxide intermediate is formed. This captures \(H^+\) to give neutral product. In carboxylic acids, carbonyl carbon is less electrophilic than carbonyl carbon carbon of aldehydes and ketones.

How will you convert acetaldehyde to lactic acid?

treating with \(HCN\) followed by hydrolysis

The correct answer is option 1. treating with \(HCN\) followed by hydrolysis.

When acetaldehyde) reacts with hydrocyanic acid (\( \text{HCN} \)), it forms 2-hydroxypropanenitrile (also known as a cyanohydrin) where the hydroxyl group (\( \text{OH} \)) is added to the carbonyl carbon, and the cyanide group (\( \text{CN} \)) is added to the same carbon. The cyanohydrin  is then hydrolyzed, typically with acidic conditions. This hydrolysis converts the cyanide group into a carboxyl group, resulting in the formation of lactic acid:

Mechanism :