Q.Identify the compounds A and B in the following sequence of reactions. $CH_3CH_2NO_2 \xrightarrow{Sn/HCl} A \xrightarrow{CH_3COCl} B$

A nitroalkane's REDUCTION proceeds in a controllable stepwise ladder -- nitro (R-NO2) to nitroso (R-N=O) to N-alkylhydroxylamine (R-NHOH) to primary amine (R-NH2) -- with the stopping point set by the reducing agent and the medium's pH: Sn/HCl (acid medium, 6[H]) carries nitromethane all the way to methylamine; Zn/NH4Cl (neutral medium, 4[H]) stops at N-methylhydroxylamine. Ethyl NITRITE reduces differently (Sn/HCl, 6[H]): its N-O bond breaks instead of a C-N bond, giving ethanol + ammonia (commonly reported as the ammonia dissolved in water, i.e. ammonium hydroxide) + water. HYDROLYSIS (concentrated HCl or H2SO4) depends on the nitroalkane's class: PRIMARY nitroalkanes give a carboxylic acid + hydroxylamine (nitroethane gives acetic acid + NH2OH); SECONDARY nitroalkanes give a ketone + nitrous …