Reaction of acetaldehyde with HCN followed by hydrolysis gives a compound which shows — Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Acetaldehyde reacts with $HCN$ to form the cyanohydrin $CH_3CH(OH)CN$. Hydrolysis of the $-CN$ group gives $CH_3CH(OH)COOH$, lactic acid. The carbon bearing $OH$, $H$, $CH_3$, and $COOH$ has four different groups, so the product is chiral and shows optical isomerism.