Nucleophilic addition with cyanide Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. Which product forms when propanal reacts with HCN?
- A. 2-Hydroxybutanenitrile
- B. 3-Hydroxypropanenitrile
- C. Butanenitrile
- D. Propan-1-ol
2. Why does the reaction of ethanal with KCN and dilute acid give a racemic mixture?
- A. The product is optically active
- B. The acid makes the product racemic
- C. CN⁻ attacks the planar C=O group from either side with equal probability
- D. Ethanal is a chiral molecule
3. Which carbonyl compound gives a hydroxynitrile with no optical isomers?
- A. Ethanal
- B. Butanal
- C. Butanone
- D. Propanone
4. What is the role of dilute acid in the mechanism?
- A. It acts as a nucleophile
- B. It protonates the negatively charged intermediate
- C. It oxidises the aldehyde
- D. It breaks the C≡N bond
5. Which hazard is specific to using KCN with acid?
- A. It is flammable
- B. It forms explosive peroxides
- C. It produces carbon monoxide
- D. It releases toxic hydrogen cyanide gas