Explain Clemmensen reduction with an example.

Explanation

The reduction of aldehydes and kethones into corresponding hydrocarbon on treatment with zinc amalgom and concentrated hydrochloric acid is called Clemmensen reduction.
During this reaction, the carbonyl group of aldehyde (or) ketone is reduced to `-CH_(2)` group. `R-overset(O)overset(||)C-R^(1)+Zn-Hg+"Con HCl"rarr R-CH_(2)-R^(1)+H_(2)O`
Example
`underset("Acetone")(CH_(3)-CO-CH_(3))+Zn-Hg+"Con HCl"rarr underset("Propane")(CH_(3)-CH_(2)-CH_(3)+H_(2)O)` 
Acetone is reduced to propane in presence of `Zn-Hg` amalgam and Conc `HCI`