Reaction of C₆H₅CH₂Br with aqueous sodium hydroxide follows ____________.

When benzyl chloride is treated with aqueous sodium hydroxide, where ^–OH is the nucleophile, nucleophilic substitution reaction takes place forming benzyl alcohol. Here, the benzene ring is resonance stabilized and its stability is extended to the methylene group attached, giving a positive charge to –CH₂, making the whole carbocation stable when the bond between benzyl and bromide is broken. This reaction is S_N1 reaction, it has two steps, and is followed due to the stability of carbocation. This reaction is concerted and occurs in two steps. First the halide group leaves the carbocation, and the nucleophile then attaches itself to the cation, forming an alcohol. The correct option is (i).