Final answer:
The wax CH₃(CH₂)₁₈COO(CH₂)₁₇CH₃ forms CH₃(CH₂)₁₈COOH (stearic acid) and CH₃(CH₂)₁₆CH₂OH (octadecanol) when hydrolyzed with aqueous sulfuric acid, making option (a) the correct choice.
Step-by-step explanation:
When subjected to aqueous sulfuric acid, the wax CH₃(CH₂)₁₈COO(CH₂)₁₇CH₃ undergoes hydrolysis, a transformative process involving the cleavage of its ester bond. This reaction culminates in the formation of two distinct products: stearic acid (CH₃(CH₂)₁₈COOH) and octadecanol (CH₃(CH₂)₁₆CH₂OH). It's imperative to discern that the hydrolysis process liberates stearic acid as the resulting fatty acid and octadecanol as the corresponding alcohol.
Subsequently, the accurate selection for the concluding part of the query unequivocally points to option (a). This option correctly identifies both CH₃(CH₂)₁₈COOH and CH₃(CH₂)₁₆CH₂OH as the conclusive products arising from this hydrolytic breakdown. Thus, the knowledge of this hydrolysis reaction's outcome corroborates the specified products and aligns with the chemical transformation induced by aqueous sulfuric acid on the given wax.