Discuss the properties and characteristics of a... - SS2 Chemistry Organic Chemistry III: Aldehydes, Ketones, and Carboxylic Acids Question

Aldehydes and ketones are organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group (C=O). They exhibit distinct properties and characteristics compared to other functional groups. Some key features of aldehydes and ketones include:

1.    Boiling Points: Aldehydes and ketones generally have lower boiling points compared to alcohols and carboxylic acids of similar molecular weight. This is because aldehydes and ketones do not form intermolecular hydrogen bonds like alcohols and carboxylic acids do.

2.    Solubility: Aldehydes and ketones are soluble in organic solvents but have limited solubility in water. Their solubility decreases with increasing carbon chain length.

3.    Reactivity: Aldehydes are more reactive than ketones due to the presence of a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon. The reactivity of aldehydes and ketones is mainly focused on the carbonyl group, which can undergo various reactions, including nucleophilic addition, oxidation, and reduction.

4.    Oxidation: Aldehydes can be oxidised to form carboxylic acids. Ketones, on the other hand, are resistant to oxidation under normal conditions.

Examples illustrating the properties of aldehydes and ketones include the boiling point difference between formaldehyde (CH2O) and propanone (C3H6O), where formaldehyde has a lower boiling point due to its smaller size. Additionally, the reactivity difference can be observed in the oxidation of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) to acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), which is further oxidised to acetic acid (CH3COOH).