Cyanohydrins are important intermediates in the synthesis of…

Cyanohydrins are important intermediates in the synthesis of α-hydroxycarboxylic acids from ketones and aldehydes. The nitrile functional group can be hydrolyzed by aqueous acid to yield a carboxylic acid. Nitriles can also be hydrolyzed to carboxylic acids using aqueous base. Unfortunately, when a cyanohydrin is treated with aqueous base the original carbonyl compound is isolated. The reaction of an aldehyde with hydrogen cyanide is an example of _____ reaction. a. a nucleophilic substitution b. an electrophilic addition c. an electrophilic substitution d. a nucleophilic addition