First post... oh yeah!

I'm trying to figure out how far an oxidizing or reducing reagent will go if it can remove more than one oxygen.

e.g. (#100 from the sample exam posted on the ADA website):


R-CO2H + LiAlH4 (followed by aqueous acid) ------> ?


Will the hydryde reduce the carb acid to an aldehyde, alcohol or an alkane? Why wouldn't there be a mix of all four molecules (i.e. carb acids, aldehydes, alcohols and alkanes all together)?

Thanks for your help!

i believe it will be reduced to an alcohol :) sorry if this is too late though!