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Chapter 18: Problem 387

What is an aldehyde?

Short Answer

Expert verified
An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a carbonyl functional group (\(C=O\)) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom and one carbon atom (which may be part of an alkyl or aryl group). The general formula of an aldehyde is \(RCHO\), where \(R\) represents any organic substituent. The structure can be represented as R-\(CHO\). Some common examples of aldehydes include formaldehyde (\(HCHO\)), acetaldehyde (\(CH_3CHO\)), and benzaldehyde (\(C_6H_5CHO\)). Aldehydes differ from ketones as ketones have a carbonyl carbon double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to two carbon atoms, while in aldehydes, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to a hydrogen atom and a carbon atom.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of an Aldehyde

An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a carbonyl functional group (\(C=O\)) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom and one carbon atom (which may be part of an alkyl or aryl group). The general formula of an aldehyde is \(RCHO\), where \(R\) represents any organic substituent.
02

Structure of an Aldehyde Functional Group

The aldehyde functional group consists of a carbonyl carbon atom (\(C\)) double-bonded to an oxygen atom (\(O\)) and single-bonded to a hydrogen atom (\(H\)). The carbonyl carbon is also attached to an alkyl or aryl group represented by \(R\). The structure can be represented as R-\(CHO\), where the double bond between the carbon and oxygen atoms is represented by \(C=O\).
03

Examples of Common Aldehydes

Some common examples of aldehydes include formaldehyde (\(HCHO\)), acetaldehyde (\(CH_3CHO\)), and benzaldehyde (\(C_6H_5CHO\)). These compounds are used in various industries as solvents, preservatives, and intermediates in chemical synthesis.
04

Differentiation of Aldehydes from Ketones

Aldehydes are different from ketones in that ketones have a carbonyl carbon double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to two carbon atoms, while in aldehydes, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to a hydrogen atom and a carbon atom. The general formula for a ketone is \(RC(O)R'\), where \(R\) and \(R'\) represent any organic substituents.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What are the products from the reaction of 1,1 -dipheny11,2 -ethanediol with strong acid? Propose a reasonable mechanism for the reaction.

One of the compounds that was initially formed in the primitive atmosphere was formaldehyde \(\left(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}=0\right)\). It is one of the precursor molecules that came to make up living organisms. It can be formed photolytically as shown in the following equation: $$ \mathrm{CH}_{4}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(\mathrm{hv}) \rightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O}+4 \mathrm{H} $$ Propose a mechanism for this reaction.

Suppose n-butyraldehyde-1- \({ }^{2} \mathrm{H}\left(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{CDO}\right)\) were reduced with aluminum tri-s-butoxide made from optically active s-buty 1 alcohol. Assuming the cyclic reduction mechanism, would you expect the first 10 per cent of n-butanol-1- \({ }^{2} \mathrm{H}\) to be optically active? Explain. What would be the products at equilibrium?

Certain aldehydes decompose to hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide when heated in the presence of peroxides.

The attack of the nucleophile always occurs at carbon rather than oxygen in a carbonyl compound; this is true when the reaction is kinetically controlled, and it is also true when the reaction is thermodynamically controlled. Explain.
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