Answer to Question #109621 in Organic Chemistry for Karina Giselle

Question

What is the functional group of aldehydes and ketones ? How are they different from each other?

Answer 1

Aldehydes and ketones contain in their structure a carbonyl functional group, C=O.

In ketones, this group is linked to 2 hydrocarbon radicals (for example, a ketone with two CH₃-groups is called acetone (CH₃)₂C=O or dimethyl ketone).

In aldehydes, this group is linked to one hydrocarbon radical and a hydrogen atom. The group H-C=O is called an aldehyde group. For example, CH₃COH is called ethanal.

You should always remember the carbon valence in organic compounds (IV). It means that C can be linked to other atoms with the help of 4 bounds.

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