Why does the nucleophilic addition of a cyanide ion to an aldehyde form a racemic mixture?
Because the plane of the C=O bond in an aldehyde is flat, and so the nucleophilic attack of CN- onto the C can occur above or below the plane of the molecule, producing two different stereoisomers of a 2-hydroxyalkane molecule with 50/50 split (as both structures are equally thermodynamically favourable). This produces a racemic mixture
SA
Related Chemistry A Level answers
All answers ▸What factors affect ionisation energy and how does each of them affect it?
Why does an ionic compound (e.g. NaCl) conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in water, but not when it is a solid.
How do acid buffer solutions work?
State and explain whether NaCl and Mg can conduct electricity in both the solid and molten states.