Butanone is a four-carbon compound with the functional group (a) carboxylic acid. (b) aldehyde. (c) ketone. (d) alcohol.

Butanone is a fascinating four-carbon organic compound. Its name gives us clues about its structure and functional group.

When we hear 'but-', we recognize it means there are four carbon atoms in the longest chain of the molecule. The suffix '-one' is a significant hint because it indicates that we have a ketone. Ketones are a specific type of organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two other carbon atoms.

Considering Butanone, visualize the structure with the carbonyl group located at one of the central carbons (not the end carbons). This positioning confirms that the compound's functional group is indeed a ketone because the carbonyl group is flanked by two carbon atoms.

Ketones are a vital category within organic chemistry. They feature a carbonyl group that is directly bonded to two carbon atoms. This differentiates them from aldehydes, which have a carbonyl group bonded to at least one hydrogen atom.

Ketones are generally named using the suffix '-one'. The position of the carbonyl group is specified by the number indicating the carbon in the chain it is attached to. For example, in Butanone, the carbonyl group is on the second carbon, so it is also known as 2-butanone.

Ketones are structurally diverse and found in many biological systems and industrial applications. They serve as solvents and intermediates in the synthesis of other compounds. This versatility makes understanding ketones fundamental for students exploring organic chemistry.

Identifying functional groups in organic compounds is crucial because they dictate the chemical behavior. The carbonyl group, characterized by a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen (C=O), is a significant functional group due to its reactivity.

Within a molecule, the placement of the carbonyl group determines if the compound is a ketone or an aldehyde. In ketones, the carbonyl carbon is attached to two other carbon atoms. In aldehydes, it is at the end of the carbon chain and is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom.

Recognizing the carbonyl group is key in classification and reactivity prediction. For students, practice in identifying this group in various molecules helps build strong foundational knowledge in organic chemistry.