MHT CET Chemistry Question (2026) — Solution

Step-by-step solution

The first step is the Fischer esterification reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction produces an ester as the intermediate. RCOOH + R'OH H ^+ RCOOR' + H _2 O The intermediate formed is the ester RCOOR' . The second step involves the catalytic hydrogenation (hydrogenolysis) of the ester using hydrogen gas over a nickel catalyst at high temperature. This process cleaves the ester bond, reducing the acyl group ( RCO -) to a primary alcohol and releasing the alkoxy group (- OR' ) as another alcohol. RCOOR' + 2 H _2 Ni , RCH _2 OH + R'OH Thus, the final products are RCH _2 OH and R'OH . Answer: RCH _2 OH + R' - OH