Same chapter3 marksDifficulty: Medium
How would you distinguish between an aldehyde and a ketone in the laboratory?
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3 marksDifficulty: Medium
Why are aldehydes more reactive than ketones towards nucleophilic addition?
Original Khojo Papers practice question — not from a past board paper.
Answer
A ketone has two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon while an aldehyde has one at most. The alkyl groups release electrons and reduce the positive charge on the carbonyl carbon, and they also crowd the approach of the nucleophile. Both effects make the ketone less reactive.
No citable source has been recorded for this record. Treat it as practice material, not as fact.
Explanation
Formaldehyde, with no alkyl group at all, is the most reactive of them.
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