A liquid was mixed with ethanol and a drop of concentrated H₂SO₄ was added. A compound with a fruity smell was formed. The liquid was :

In Cannizzaro reaction given below
2PhCHO $$\buildrel {\mathop {:OH}\limits^{\left( - \right)} } \over \longrightarrow $$ PhCH₂OH + $$PhC\mathop O\limits^{..} $$₂^(-)
the slowest step is :

The compound formed as a result of oxidation of ethyl benzene by KMnO₄ is :

The increasing order of the rate of HCN addition to compounds A – D is
(A) HCHO
(B) CH₃COCH₃
(C) PhCOCH₃
(D) PhCOPh