Given two aromatic hydrocarbons X and Y with molecular masses of 102 g mol⁻¹ and 104 g mol⁻¹, identify them and determine the correct starting material for the synthesis of 1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethano

Here is the educational speech outlining the synthesis pathway:

Good morning, everyone. We're here today to address the critical situation regarding the synthesis of 1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethanone. We have two unidentified aromatic hydrocarbon batches, X and Y, with molecular masses of $102 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$ and $104 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$ respectively. Identifying the correct starting material and optimizing the synthesis route is crucial to avoid delays and ensure product quality.

Step 1: Distinguishing between Hydrocarbons X and Y

First, let's identify X and Y. Given they are aromatic hydrocarbons with molecular masses of $102 \text{ g mol}^{-1}$ and $104 \text{ g mol