An organic compound 'X' with molecular formula C ₇ H ₁₄ O ₃ gives a yellow precipitate when treated with I ₂ and NaOH , but does not give a red precipitate with Fehling's solution. Upon heating with dilute HCl , 'X' undergoes hydrolysis to yield a compound 'Y' and an alcohol. Compound 'Y' gives a positive Tollen's test as well as a positive iodoform test. Furthermore, completely reducing 'Y' with Zn(Hg) and conc. HCl

Step-by-step solution

Compound 'X' gives a positive iodoform test (yellow precipitate with I ₂/ NaOH ), indicating the presence of a free methyl ketone ( CH ₃- CO - ) group. It gives a negative Fehling's test, meaning it lacks a free aldehyde ( - CHO ) group. Hydrolysis of 'X' with dilute acid yields 'Y', which gives both a positive Tollen's test and a positive iodoform test. This indicates that 'Y' contains both an aldehyde and a methyl ketone group. Thus, in 'X', the aldehyde group was protected as an acetal. Clemmensen reduction ( Zn