Benzenediazonium chloride on reaction with water gives

Options

A. Phenol
B. Aniline
C. Benzylamine
D. Benzaldehyde

Answer

To solve the question regarding the reaction of benzenediazonium chloride with water, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Reactant**:
- The reactant is benzenediazonium chloride, which has the formula C6H5N2Cl. It consists of a benzene ring (C6H5) attached to a diazonium group (N2+) and a chloride ion (Cl-).

2. **Understand the Reaction**:
- When benzenediazonium chloride reacts with water, it undergoes hydrolysis. The diazonium group is a good leaving group and will leave the benzene ring.

3. **Mechanism of Reaction**:
- The nitrogen gas (N2) is released as the diazonium group departs. This leaves behind a positively charged carbocation on the benzene ring.
- The chloride ion (Cl-) remains in the solution.

4. **Nucleophilic Attack**:
- Water (H2O) can dissociate into H+ and OH-. The hydroxide ion (OH-) acts as a nucleophile and attacks the electron-deficient carbocation formed on the benzene ring.

5. **Formation of Phenol**:
- The nucleophilic attack by OH- leads to the formation of phenol (C6H5OH), which is the major product of this reaction.

6. **By-products**:
- The H+ ion that was generated during the dissociation of water combines with the chloride ion (Cl-) to form hydrochloric acid (HCl).
- Additionally, nitrogen gas (N2) is evolved as a by-product.

7. **Final Products**:
- The main product of the reaction is phenol (C6H5OH), and the by-products are hydrochloric acid (HCl) and nitrogen gas (N2).

### Final Answer:
Benzenediazonium chloride on reaction with water gives phenol (C6H5OH), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and nitrogen gas (N2).

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