Aldehydes vs Ketones

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ALDEHYDES VS KETONES Submitted by: Deja Logan BioOrganic Chemistry 1B February 26, 2012 Ms. Bing-Cotton Aldehydes and ketones are closely related. They both are carbonyl-containing organic compounds. An aldehyde’s carbon atom has at least one hydrogen atom attached to it. A ketone’s carbon atom has two other carbon atoms attached to it. Their c=functional group is a carbonyl group. Things get different when name these compounds. There are many similarities and differences in IUPAC nomenclature of aldehydes and ketones. Both aldehydes and ketones, you must select the parent carbon chain as the longest chain that includes the carbon atom of the carbonyl group. The parent chain will not always be in a straight line. You do not include substituents when counting for the parent chain. The carbonyl carbon atom is always located as the number one in aldehydes. In ketones, the carbonyl carbon atom receives the lowest number possible. Substituents are molecules attached to the parent carbon chain. In both ketones and aldehydes, you must determine the identity and location of any substituents and add the information to the front of the parent chain name. For example, a parent chain is five carbons long, giving it the name of pentanol. A methyl group is present on carbon 3. The correct IUPAC name would be 3-methylpentanol, not methyl-3pentanol or methylpentanol-3. Tis rule is also present in IUPAC nomenclature of alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. One major difference in the naming of aldehydes and ketones is the endings of the parent carbon chain. In aldehyde nomenclature, you name the parent chain by changing the –e ending of the corresponding alkane name to –al. This gives names such as propanal, pentanal, heptanal, etc. However in ketone nomenclature, you name the parent chain by changing the –e of the corresponding alkane name to –one. Ketone parent chain

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