In Clemmensen reduction, carbonyl compound is treated with …….

Options

A. zinc amalgam + HCl
B. sodium amalgam + HCl
C. zinc amalgam + nitric acid
D. sodium amalgam + `HNO_(3)`

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Clemmensen Reduction**: Clemmensen reduction is a chemical reaction used to reduce carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) to their corresponding alkanes.

2. **Reactants Involved**: The key reactants in Clemmensen reduction are a carbonyl compound (which can be either an aldehyde or a ketone), zinc amalgam (a mixture of zinc and mercury), and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

3. **Reaction Mechanism**:
- The carbonyl compound (RCHO for aldehydes or R2C=O for ketones) is treated with zinc amalgam and HCl.
- The zinc serves as a reducing agent, and the HCl provides the acidic environment necessary for the reaction.
- During the reaction, the carbonyl group (C=O) is reduced to a methylene group (–CH2–), effectively converting the carbonyl compound into an alkane.

4. **Final Product**: The result of the Clemmensen reduction is an alkane (RCH2R' for aldehydes or R2CH2 for ketones), where the carbonyl oxygen is replaced by two hydrogen atoms.

5. **Conclusion**: In summary, in Clemmensen reduction, a carbonyl compound is treated with zinc amalgam and hydrochloric acid to yield an alkane.

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