An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a carbon to oxygen double bond (also known as the carbonyl group). The carbon atom must be attached to at least one hydrogen atom to be an aldehyde. A common aldehyde is formaldehyde (CH2O), which is a carbonyl group with a hydrogen atom on each side.
Common name | Systematic name | Formula |
---|---|---|
Formaldehyde | Methanal | HCHO |
Acetaldehyde | Ethanal | CH3CHO |
Propionaldehyde | Propanal | CH3CH2CHO |
Butyraldehyde | Butanal | CH3CH2CH2CHO |
Aldehydes differ from ketones. While both are similar, ketones require the carbonyl carbon atom to be bonded to two other carbon atoms.[1]
Categories: [Organic Chemistry]