H₂COH· CH₂OH on heating with periodic acid gives

$H_2COH\cdot CH_2OH$ on heating with periodic acid gives
A 2 HCHO
B 2 $CO_2$
C 2 HCOOH
D OHC–CHO

Detailed Solution

Periodic acid ($HIO_4$) cleaves the C–C bond between two adjacent carbon atoms each bearing an –OH group (a vicinal diol).
Each carbon that carried an –OH group is converted into a carbonyl group: a $-CH_2OH$ end gives formaldehyde.
$HOCH_2-CH_2OH + HIO_4 \rightarrow 2HCHO + HIO_3 + H_2O$
Ethylene glycol has two $-CH_2OH$ carbons, so two molecules of formaldehyde are formed.
Hence the product is 2 HCHO.

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