Carboxylic acids having at least one `alpha`-hydrogen react with `Cl_(2)` or `Br_(2)` in the presence of phosphorous to give `alpha`-halo acids. The reaction is known as Hell -volhar-Zelinsky reaction (HVZ reaction).
`R-CH_(2)-CO OH overset(P//Br_(2))underset(Delta)toR-CH(Br)CO OH`
The HVZ reaction is limited to the formation of `alpha`-chloro and `alpha`-bromo acids and it is sometimes backward to carry out. the reagents (`X_(2)` and `P`) are noxious and the reaction time is often long and the conditions of reaction are harsh.
Which of the following will be obtained when acetic acid is subjected to HVZ reaction ?
A. `BrCH_(2)COOH`
B. `Br-overset(Br)overset(|)CH-COOH`
C. `Br-overset(Br)overset(|)underset(Br)underset(|)C-COOH`
D. All of these