`overset(" CHO")underset(" CHO")("|")overset(NaOH)toX`
The product (X) will be

Options

A. `overset(" CH"_(2)ONa)underset(" COONa")("|")`
B. `overset(" COOH")underset(" COOH")("|")`
C. `overset(" CH"_(2)OH)underset(" COONa")("|")`
D. `overset(" CH"_(2)OH)underset(" CH"_(2)OH)("|")`

Answer

To solve the given question regarding the reaction of glyoxal (CHO) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to form product X, we will follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Reactant**:
The reactant is glyoxal, which has the structure:
\[ \text{CHO} - \text{C(CHO)} \]
This compound has two aldehyde functional groups (CHO) and no alpha hydrogen atoms.

**Hint**: Remember that glyoxal is a symmetrical compound with two carbonyl groups.

2. **Recognize the Type of Reaction**:
The reaction of glyoxal with sodium hydroxide is a base-catalyzed reaction. Since there are no alpha hydrogens present, this reaction will proceed via the Cannizzaro reaction, which is characteristic of aldehydes without alpha hydrogens.

**Hint**: Cannizzaro reaction occurs when aldehydes lack alpha hydrogens.

3. **Mechanism of the Cannizzaro Reaction**:
In the Cannizzaro reaction, one molecule of glyoxal will be oxidized to form a carboxylic acid, while another molecule will be reduced to form an alcohol. The hydroxide ion (OH-) acts as a nucleophile and attacks one of the carbonyl carbons.

**Hint**: The hydroxide ion is a strong nucleophile that will attack the electrophilic carbon in the carbonyl group.

4. **Formation of the Intermediate**:
When the hydroxide ion attacks the carbonyl carbon, it forms a tetrahedral intermediate. The oxygen of the carbonyl group becomes negatively charged, and the intermediate can rearrange.

**Hint**: Look for the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate in nucleophilic addition reactions.

5. **Final Product Formation**:
The intermediate will undergo rearrangement where one of the aldehyde groups is reduced to an alcohol (specifically, a hydroxymethyl group), and the other is oxidized to a carboxylate ion. The final product will be sodium salt of the alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid.

The final product can be represented as:
\[ \text{CH}_2\text{(OH)} - \text{C(=O)O}^- \text{Na}^+ \]
This corresponds to sodium glycolate.

**Hint**: The final product will be a sodium salt of an alpha-hydroxy acid.

6. **Conclusion**:
The product (X) formed from the reaction of glyoxal with sodium hydroxide is the sodium salt of alpha-hydroxy acetic acid, which corresponds to option 3.

**Final Answer**: The product (X) will be the sodium salt of alpha-hydroxy acetic acid.