Acetonitrile on reduction with sodium in ethanol gives A, which reacts with NaNO ₂ and dil. HCl to form B. Identify product B.

Step-by-step solution

Acetonitrile ( CH ₃ CN ) on reduction with sodium and ethanol undergoes Mendius reduction to form ethylamine (A). CH ₃ CN + 4[ H ] Na/C ₂ H ₅ OH CH ₃ CH ₂ NH ₂ Ethylamine (A) is a primary aliphatic amine. It reacts with nitrous acid (generated in situ from NaNO ₂ and dil. HCl ) to form an unstable aliphatic diazonium salt, which immediately decomposes to yield ethyl alcohol (B) and nitrogen gas. CH ₃ CH ₂ NH ₂ + NaNO ₂ + HCl [ CH ₃ CH ₂ N ₂⁺ Cl ⁻] H ₂ O CH ₃ CH ₂ OH + N ₂ + HCl Thus, product B is CH ₃ -CH ₂ -OH . A