The total number of compounds from below when treated with hot KMnO4 giving benzoic acid is:
Hot potassium permanganate (KMnO4) acts as a potent oxidizing agent. It cleaves alkyl side chains attached to benzene rings, transforming the alkyl group into a carboxyl group, thereby generating benzoic acid. Consequently, compounds featuring alkyl groups bonded to the benzene ring will undergo oxidation to benzoic acid. The count of such compounds that will experience this chemical conversion is 5.