Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only) key terms

aldehyde

A type of organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom.

ketone

An organic compound characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon atoms. In Aldehydes and ketones (A-level only), ketone is used to explain name and represent aldehydes and ketones with A-Level Chemistry precision.

carbonyl group

A functional group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, present in aldehydes and ketones.

Tollens' reagent

A chemical reagent used to distinguish aldehydes from ketones, producing a silver mirror when reacting with aldehydes.

Fehling's reagent

A solution used to differentiate between aldehydes and ketones, where aldehydes reduce the blue copper(II) ions to a red precipitate.

Aldehyde

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) with at least one hydrogen atom attached to the carbon atom of the carbonyl.

Aldehyde

A type of organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom.

Carboxylic Acid

An organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (-COOH), formed by the oxidation of aldehydes.

Oxidation Reaction

A chemical reaction in which an aldehyde is converted to a carboxylic acid, involving the gain of oxygen or loss of hydrogen.

nucleophilic addition

A reaction where a nucleophile attacks a carbon atom in a carbonyl compound, resulting in the addition of new atoms or groups.

carbonyl compound

An organic compound that contains a carbonyl group (C=O), which is characteristic of aldehydes and ketones.

nucleophile

A species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond in a reaction, often attacking electrophilic centers like carbonyl carbons.