Knowra Aldehyde Aldehyde An aldehyde is an organic compound with a carbonyl carbon bonded to at least one hydrogen atom, written R–CHO. This terminal carbonyl group distinguishes aldehydes from ketones.
Carbonyl group : A functional group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom. The C=O bond is the shared reactive core of every aldehyde.
Ketone : An organic compound whose carbonyl carbon is bonded to two carbon-containing groups. Ketones share the carbonyl group but lack the aldehyde’s carbon-bound hydrogen.
Benzaldehyde : An aromatic aldehyde with a benzene ring directly attached to a formyl group, commonly associated with almond aroma. It is a widely encountered aldehyde used in fragrances, flavors, and chemical synthesis.
Acetaldehyde : A two-carbon aldehyde, also called ethanal, formed in processes including ethanol metabolism. It is a small, reactive aldehyde with major roles in metabolism and chemical manufacture.
Nucleophilic addition : A reaction in which a nucleophile bonds to an electrophilic atom, adding across a multiple bond. Nucleophiles attack the polarized carbonyl carbon in aldehydes.
Formaldehyde : The simplest aldehyde, with the formula CH₂O and a carbonyl carbon bonded to two hydrogen atoms. It is the smallest member of the aldehyde family, with no carbon substituent.
Vanillin : A phenolic aromatic compound that is the principal flavor component of vanilla beans. Its aldehyde group contributes to the compound’s reactivity and chemical identity.
Retinal : A vitamin A-derived aldehyde that binds opsin proteins and participates in vertebrate vision. Its aldehyde group is central to the light-driven shape change in visual pigments.
Oxidation of aldehydes : The conversion of an aldehyde into a carboxylic acid or its carboxylate form by oxidation. Aldehydes oxidize readily because the carbonyl carbon retains a hydrogen.
Alkyl group : A group derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom, such as methyl or ethyl. In R–CHO, R commonly represents an alkyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon.
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