Ketone
One of the 4 main classes of biological molecules, Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms usually in the proportion of 1:2:1.
Ketones are a class of organic compounds that contain a carbonyl functional group (-CO-) bonded to two carbon atoms that are each also bonded to other atoms. The general structure of a ketone is R-CO-R’, where R and R’ can be any organic group.
Ketones are commonly produced in the body during the metabolism of fatty acids, as well as in certain metabolic disorders such as diabetes and starvation. They are also commonly used in organic chemistry as solvents, intermediates, and reagents.
One important characteristic of ketones is their polarity, which makes them useful as solvents and in industrial processes such as the production of plastics and pharmaceuticals. Another property of ketones is their tendency to undergo addition reactions with nucleophiles, which allows them to participate in a variety of chemical reactions.
Ketones are important in human physiology as well; they are produced during periods of fasting or during low-carbohydrate diets as a source of energy for the brain when glucose is scarce. However, excessive production of ketones can lead to serious health issues, such as ketoacidosis.
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