Carboxylic Acid Synthesis via Hydrolysis and Oxidation

Steps:

• Examine A: CH3CN hydrolyzes to carboxylic acid with same carbon count, CH3COOH (ethanoic acid).
• Examine B: CH3CH2CH2OH (3-carbon primary alcohol) oxidizes to 3-carbon propanoic acid, not 4-carbon butanoic.
• Examine C: CH3CHO (2-carbon aldehyde) oxidizes to 2-carbon ethanoic acid, not 3-carbon propanoic.
• Note D provides no statement, so unevaluable.

Why A is correct:

• Nitriles (RCN) undergo acid hydrolysis to carboxylic acids (RCOOH) via addition of water: CH3CN + 2H2O + HCl → CH3COOH + NH4Cl.

Why the others are wrong:

• B: Oxidation of primary alcohols (RCH2OH) yields RCOOH with same carbon chain; propanol gives propanoic acid, not butanoic.
• C: Aldehydes (RCHO) oxidize to RCOOH; ethanal (R=CH3) gives ethanoic acid, not propanoic.
• D: Not enough information.

Final answer: A