4.4 - ALDEHYDES AND KETONES Flashcards
Name the type of reaction alcohols undergo to form aldehydes and ketones
Oxidation
How can you tell whether the oxidation of an alcohol will produce an aldehyde or ketone?
A primary alcohol will form an aldehyde when oxidised.
A secondary alcohol will form a ketone when oxidised.
Why is immediate distillation required for the oxidation of an alcohol to an aldehyde?
The alcohol undergoes oxidation to form the aldehyde and the aldehyde must be distilled off immediately because otherwise it will undergo further oxidation to form a carboxylic acid.
What is a common oxidising agent used in the oxidation of alcohols?
Acidified potassium dichromate(VI)
What is observed when an alcohol undergoes oxidation by acidified potassium dichromate(VI)?
The orange dichromate(VI) ion, Cr O 2-, is 27
reduced to the green chromium(III) ion, Cr3+.
This means the solution changes colour from orange to green.
What would be observed when acidified potassium dichromate is added to a tertiary alcohol?
The solution will remain orange because potassium dichromate(VI) does not react with tertiary alcohols as they cannot be oxidised.
Give the chemical equation for the oxidation of propan-2-ol to propanone
CH3CH(OH)CH3 + [O] → CH3COCH3 + H2O
Give the chemical equation for the oxidation of ethanol to ethanal
CH3CH2OH + [O] → CH3CHO + H2O
Name the two reagents which can be used to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones
Tollens’ reagent
Fehling’s reagent
How can Tollens’ reagent be used to determine whether you have an aldehyde or a ketone?
Tollen’s reagent forms a silver mirror on the test tube only when warmed with an aldehyde and not a ketone.
How can Fehling’s reagent be used to determine whether you have an aldehyde or a ketone?
Fehling’s reagent is blue.
If Fehling’s reagent is added to an aldehyde then the blue solution will form a brick red precipitate.
If Fehling’s reagent is added to a ketone, nothing happens.
Name the type of reaction aldehydes and ketones undergo to form alcohols
Reduction
What will be the classification of the alcohols formed by the reduction of aldehydes and ketones?
Aldehydes will be reduced to a primary alcohol.
Ketones will be reduced to a secondary alcohol.
What is a common reducing agent used in the reduction of aldehydes and ketones to alcohols?
NaBH4 dissolved in water with methanol
Give the chemical equation for the reduction of butanone to butan-2-ol
CH3COCH2CH3 + 2[H] → CH3C(OH)HCH2CH3
Name the mechanism for the reduction of propanal to propan-1-ol
Nucleophilic addition
Give the reactants and conditions required for the formation of a hydroxynitrile from an aldehyde/ketone
Potassium or sodium cyanide is added to sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen cyanide.
Temperature of 20oC.
Why is hydrogen cyanide not added directly to an aldehyde/ketone for a nucleophilic addition reaction?
Hydrogen cyanide is a very poisonous gas and is also hard to store.
Draw and name the mechanism for the formation of 2-hydroxypropanenitrile from ethanal and hydrogen cyanide
Why are hydroxynitriles important?
Hydroxynitriles can be hydrolysed to form hydroxy acids which are very useful and are commonly used in the cosmetics industry.
How does the addition of HCN to ethanal affect the C-C chain length?
The C-C chain length will increase by one carbon atom due to the carbon atom in the cyanide ion, CN-.
Give the structural formula for 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNP)
Name the type of reaction taking place when aldehydes and ketones react with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine
Nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction (condensation reaction)
How can 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine be used to identify specific aldehydes and ketones?
Add 2,4-DNP so that a precipitate forms. Purify the solid by recrystallisation. Compare the melting point of the pure crystals formed with the melting points of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones of all the common aldehydes and ketones.
