The Carbonyl group. Flashcards
What is the Carbonyl group ?
Consists of a carbon double bond oxygen.
What is the functional group of an aldehyde ?
Carbonyl carbon has at least on hydrogen bonded to it. RCHO
What is the functional group of a ketone ?
The Carbonyl carbon has 2 organic groups bonded to it . Can be either alkyl or aryl groups just not hydrogen. RRCO
What is an alkyl group ?
Based on a saturated hydrocarbon group.
What is an aryl group?
Based on an aromatic system.
Why can’t carbonyl compounds H-bond to themselves ?
No Hydrogen bonded directly to sufficiently electronegative atom .
Why do long chain carbonyls not dissolve in water .
Since the long chain means the V.D.W forces predominate over the H-Bonds so it becomes energetically favourable to be insoluble and not form weaker VDW forces with Water that originally had stronger H-Bonds.
What part of aldehydes /ketones has a large effect on their physical properties .
The polar carbon double bond oxygen.
What does the carbon double bond oxygen mean for the reactivity of aldehydes and ketones.
The carbon is partially positive so attacks nucleophilic reagents. The double bond leads to unsaturation so addition reactions become possible. Despite the high bond enthalpy on the carbon double bond oxygen this is where reactions occur.
What does the carbon double bond oxygen mean for the solubility of carbonyl s ?
Shorter chain aldehydes and ketones can H-bond to water making them soluble in water.
Compare boiling points of Aldehydes and ketones with similar MR alkanes and carboxylic acids .
Permanent dipole - Dipole forces means they have higher BP than alkanes with only VDW but less than carboxyic acids that can H-Bond .
How does the C=C and the C=O differ in terms of their reactions.
C=O is stronger as does not undergo addition reactions as easily as the C=C. C=C will not be reduced by the Hydride ion like the carbonyl group is since the centre of high electron density will repel the hydride ion.
What oxidising agent is used for the oxidation of alcoholes and aldehydes .
Acidified potassium dichromate solution. K2Cr207 Acidified with dilute sulphuric acid.
Which colour change is observed when potassium dichromate is used as an oxidising agent.
The orange Cr207 2- ions are Reduced to green Chronium 3+ ions.
What decides weather you heat using reflux or distillation When oxidant a carbonyl group compound.
If a product is required that needs lesser oxidation (multiple possible products)for example an aldehyde you distill to get the right one. If only one possible product just overkill in reflux conditions.
Give a common Reducing agent and state the nucleophile that is generated.
Sodium Borohydride- NaBH4 , this produces the hydride Ion nucleophile that is :H- .
What is an aldehyde reduced to.
A primary alcohol .
What is a ketone reduced to ?
A secondary alcohol
What is used to represent the reducing agent When Aldehyde / ketones are reduced to their respective alcohols.
2[H] Remember it’s 2 Hs for reduction.
When NaBH4 acts as a reducing agent what must it be ?
It must be aqeous to produce the Hydride ion.
Name the and outline the mechanism for the reduction of aldehydes/ketones.
Mechanism is nucleophilic addition. It follows:
In the nucleophilic addition mechanism for the reduction. of aldehydes and jerked describe the two stages and where the things come from.
The partially positive carbonyl carbon is attacked by the hydride ion that is generated from the NaBH4 , the :O- is then attacked by a H+ ion that comes from the solvent.
Give the general equation you would give in an exam for the reduction of a ketone into a secondary alcohol.
RCOR +2[H] goes into RCH(OH)R Where the two H atoms have been added. One to the O and one to the carbonyl carbon.
Write a general equation for the reduction of a ketone into an alcohol.in both displayed and structural.
Displayed: Structural: RCOR’ + 2[H] into RCH(OH)R’





