See image — Haloalkanes and Haloarenes Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Concept: Hydrolysis of gem-trihalides (trihalomethyl compounds) under alkaline conditions. Step 1: Identify benzotrichloride. Benzotrichloride is C6H5CCl3 (phenyl trichloromethane), where the CCl3 group is attached to the benzene ring. Step 2: Reaction with milk of lime (Ca(OH)2, an alkaline aqueous suspension). The CCl3 group undergoes hydrolysis under alkaline conditions. Each C-Cl bond is successively hydrolyzed. Step 3: Mechanism of hydrolysis. The CCl3 group first hydrolyzes to give C(OH)3 (a geminal triol), which is unstable and spontaneously loses two water molecules to form the carboxylic acid: C6H5CCl3 + 3H2O → C6H5C(OH)3 + 3HCl → C6H5COOH + 2H2O. Step 4: The overall reaction gives benzoic acid (C6H5COOH) and calcium chloride as the inorganic by-product. Why other options fail: - (a) Benzal (benzaldehyde, C6H5CHO): This would require a CHCl2 group (benzal chloride), not CCl3. - (c) Benzyl alcohol (C6H5CH2OH): This would require a CH2Cl group (benzyl chloride), not CCl3. - (d) Phenol (C6H5OH): This would require direct substitution on the ring, which does not occur under these conditions. Therefore, the correct answer is B.