Number of aldol products in the given reaction
`C_(6)H_(5) - CHO + CH_(3) - CHO overset(overset(Ө)(OH))(rarr)`is

Options

A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four

Explanation

To determine the number of aldol products formed from the reaction of benzaldehyde (C₆H₅CHO) and acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactants
The reactants are benzaldehyde (C₆H₅CHO) and acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO).

### Step 2: Check for Alpha Hydrogens
- **Benzaldehyde (C₆H₅CHO)**: It has no alpha hydrogen because the carbon adjacent to the carbonyl group (CHO) is part of the phenyl ring.
- **Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO)**: It has alpha hydrogens (the three hydrogens on the methyl group).

### Step 3: Determine the Aldol Reaction
Since benzaldehyde does not have alpha hydrogens, it cannot undergo self-condensation to form an aldol. However, acetaldehyde can undergo aldol condensation.

### Step 4: Formation of Aldol Product
The aldol reaction will primarily occur with acetaldehyde:
1. The alpha hydrogen from acetaldehyde is abstracted by a base (OH⁻).
2. This forms an enolate ion.
3. The enolate ion can then attack the carbonyl carbon of another molecule of acetaldehyde, leading to the formation of a β-hydroxy aldehyde (aldol).

### Step 5: Consider Isomerization
The β-hydroxy aldehyde can undergo dehydration (loss of water) to form an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde.
- The dehydration can lead to two geometric isomers (cis and trans) of the product.

### Step 6: Count the Products
1. The aldol product from acetaldehyde can exist in two forms due to geometric isomerism (cis and trans).
2. Since benzaldehyde does not contribute to additional aldol products, we only consider the products formed from acetaldehyde.

### Conclusion
Thus, the total number of aldol products formed in this reaction is **2** (the cis and trans isomers of the aldol product from acetaldehyde).

### Final Answer
The number of aldol products in the given reaction is **2**.

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