Understanding Chemistry

 

ALDEHYDES AND KETONES MENU

 

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.



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© Jim Clark 2004