When benzyl alcohol is oxidised with hot acidic `KMnO_(4)` , the product obtained is `:`

Options

A. Benzaldehyde
B. Benzoic acid
C. `CO_(2)` and `H_(2)O`
D. None of these

Answer

To determine the product obtained when benzyl alcohol is oxidized with hot acidic KMnO₄, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the structure of benzyl alcohol
Benzyl alcohol has the chemical formula C₇H₈O, and its structure can be represented as:
- A phenyl group (C₆H₅) attached to a -CH₂OH (hydroxymethyl) group.

### Step 2: Understand the oxidation process
When benzyl alcohol is oxidized, it can undergo a transformation where the alcohol group (-OH) is converted into a carbonyl group (C=O). However, in the presence of a strong oxidizing agent like hot acidic KMnO₄, the oxidation does not stop at the aldehyde stage.

### Step 3: Determine the final product of oxidation
In hot acidic conditions, KMnO₄ is a powerful oxidizer that will oxidize benzyl alcohol all the way to benzoic acid (C₇H₆O₂). This is because KMnO₄ can oxidize alcohols to their highest oxidizable state, which in this case is a carboxylic acid.

### Step 4: Write the balanced reaction
The reaction can be summarized as:
\[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \xrightarrow{\text{KMnO}_4, \text{H}^+} \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{COOH} \]
This indicates that benzyl alcohol is converted to benzoic acid.

### Conclusion
Thus, the product obtained when benzyl alcohol is oxidized with hot acidic KMnO₄ is **benzoic acid**.

---