Difference Between Aldehydes and Ketones: Structure, Reactivity, and Key Characteristics

Aldehyde vs. Ketones Terminal group

Formaldehyde

Aldehydes and ketones are two classes of organic compounds that have a carbonyl group (-C=O) in their structure. The carbonyl group consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom.

The main difference between aldehydes and ketones lies in the position of the carbonyl group in the molecule. In aldehydes, the carbonyl group is at the end of a carbon chain, which is why it is also called the terminal group. In contrast, in ketones, the carbonyl group is located in the middle of a carbon chain with two carbon atoms on either side of it.

An important consequence of this difference is that aldehydes have a hydrogen atom attached to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group, while ketones do not. This makes aldehydes more reactive than ketones, as the hydrogen atom can easily be replaced by another functional group, such as an alcohol, to form a new compound.

In summary, while both aldehydes and ketones have a carbonyl group as a common functional group, the position of this group in the molecule determines whether the compound is an aldehyde or a ketone. The presence of a hydrogen atom in aldehydes also makes them more reactive than ketones.

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