Aldehydes undergo disproportionation reaction in presence of aqueous NaOH. Simultaneous oxidation and reduction of a compound is scientifically called as disproportionatio.
Aldehydes having no `alpha`- hydrogen show this reaction called Cannizzaro's reactio. Few exceptions are also there to this generalisation.
The reaction may be represented as :
`C_(6)H_(5)CHO+C_(6)H_(5)CHOoverset(NaOH)underset(Delta)rarrC_(6)H_(5)COONa+C_(6)H_(5)CH_(2)OH`
Intramolecular Carrizzaro's reaction is also possible.

Mixture of `C_(6)H_(5)CHO and HCHO` is teated with NaOH then Cannizzaro's reaction involves :

Options

A. oxidation of HCHO
B. reduction of HCHO
C. oxidation of `C_(6)H_(5)CHO`
D. reduction of `C_(6)H_(5)CHO`

Answer

A, B