A laboratory technician needs to synthesize Ethanol using a Grignard reagent and a carbonyl compound. Which specific carbonyl precursor must be selected?
Q1. A laboratory technician needs to synthesize Ethanol using a Grignard reagent and a carbonyl compound. Which specific carbonyl precursor must be selected?
Answer: Methanal
Explanation: Formaldehyde is the only aldehyde producing primary alcohols with Grignard. Higher aldehydes produce secondary alcohols, which is the most common student error.