By Olivia Blanchet

7/4/2010

Aldehydes

Ketones

structural
structural
name
name
The homologous
series
of
aldehydes
formula
formula

and ketones
methanal
(formaldehyd
HCHO
e)
ethanal
CHCHO
(acetaldehyd
e)
propanal
CHCHCHO
Oxidising
Conditions
agents
butanal
acidified
potassium
dichromate
(6)

Observation explanatio
propanon
on
oxidation (CH)CO
n of
e
of an
observatio
(acetone)
aldehyde
n
CHCHCHCH butanone CHCOCHCH
the orange
O
dichromate
the orange
(6) ion. Is
boil gently
solution turns
reduced to
(reflux)
green
green
chromium
(3) ion.

Summary of carbonyl
compounds

Fehling's
solution (an
the CU ion is
alkaline
warm
red precipitate reduced to
solution of Cu
red CUO.
ions)
Aldehydes
and ketones contain the
Tollens
a silver
mirror
carbonyl
group, C=O.
In aldehydes
the
reagent
(an
forms on the
the silver(1)
aqueous
carbonyl group
is joined
just one
sides to
of the
ionother
is
solution of
warm
test tube from reduced to
silver
nitrate atom; in ketones the carbonyl
carbon
the colourless silver metal.
in excess
group is joined to two solution.
other carbon atoms.
ammonia)

The systematic names of aldehydes are

derived from the name of the alkane with
The effects of oxidizing agents
on aldehydes

By Olivia Blanchet

7/4/2010

the -e replaced by -al. Similarly ketones

are named with the -e replaced by -one.

As the carbonyl group is very polar,

aldehydes and ketones are water soluble.

Carbonyl compounds are readily reduced

by NaBH. Reduction of a ketone produces
a secondary alcohol.

Aldehydes are readily oxidsed under mild

conditions to carboxylic acids. Ketones are
not oxidised under mild conditions.
The polar nature of the carbonyl group in
aldehydes and ketones enables them to
undergo nucleophilic addition of hydrogen
cyanide to form hydroxynitriles.