Background . . .
An introduction to aldehydes and ketones, their reactivity and their physical properties.
Preparation of aldehydes and ketones . . .
Their preparation by the oxidation of primary or secondary alcohols.
Simple addition reactions . . .
The addition of hydrogen cyanide and of sodium hydrogensulphite (sodium bisulphite) to aldehydes and ketones.
Reduction of aldehydes and ketones . . .
The reduction of aldehydes and ketones using sodium tetrahydridoborate(III) or lithium tetrahydridoaluminate(III) (sodium borohydride or lithium aluminium hydride).
Reactions with Grignard reagents . . .
The reactions of aldehydes and ketones with Grignard reagents as a way of making complicated alcohols.
Oxidation of aldehydes and ketones . . .
Covers the main ways of distinguishing between aldehydes and ketones using, for example, Tollens' reagent, Fehling's solution or Benedict's solution.
Addition-elimination reactions . . .
Looks at the test for aldehydes and ketones using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (Brady's reagent), plus a quick look at some similar reactions.
The triiodomethane (iodoform) reaction . . .
The use of this reaction to detect the presence of the CH3CO group in aldehydes and ketones.