Ethylidene chloride is hydrolysed with aqueous NaOH. The product formed is:

Options

A. Ethanol
B. Ethanal
C. Ethanone
D. Ethane

Explanation

To solve the problem of what product is formed when ethylidene chloride is hydrolyzed with aqueous NaOH, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Structure of Ethylidene Chloride
Ethylidene chloride is a compound with the formula CH3CHCl2. It consists of an ethyl group (CH3CH) attached to two chlorine atoms (Cl).

### Step 2: Understand the Hydrolysis Reaction
Hydrolysis in this context involves the reaction of ethylidene chloride with aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH). In this reaction, the hydroxide ion (OH-) acts as a nucleophile.

### Step 3: Nucleophilic Substitution
The hydroxide ion will attack the carbon atom that is bonded to the chlorine atoms. This leads to a nucleophilic substitution reaction where the chlorine atoms are replaced by hydroxyl groups.

### Step 4: Formation of an Intermediate
When the hydroxide ion attacks, we form an intermediate compound. The reaction can be represented as:
\[ CH3CHCl2 + 2 OH^- \rightarrow CH3C(OH)(OH) \]
This intermediate has two hydroxyl groups attached to the carbon.

### Step 5: Elimination of Water
The intermediate is unstable due to the presence of two hydroxyl groups on the same carbon atom. To stabilize, it undergoes dehydration (loss of water) to form a carbonyl compound. The reaction can be represented as:
\[ CH3C(OH)(OH) \rightarrow CH3C=O + H2O \]
This results in the formation of ethanal (acetaldehyde), which has the structure CH3CHO.

### Step 6: Conclusion
The final product of the hydrolysis of ethylidene chloride with aqueous NaOH is ethanal (acetaldehyde).

### Final Answer
The product formed is **ethanal (acetaldehyde)**.

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