A-level Chemistry: 3.3.8 Aldehydes and Ketones
This set of flashcards focuses on carbonyl compounds, specifically aldehydes and ketones. It covers their structures, reactivity with oxidizing agents, and common tests (Tollens’ and Fehling’s) used to identify aldehydes.
Name 2 carbonyl compounds
Aldehydes and ketones
(both contain carbonyl functional group C=O)
Key Terms
Name 2 carbonyl compounds
Aldehydes and ketones
(both contain carbonyl functional group C=O)
Draw an aldehyde
Draw a ketone
State which compound reacts with oxidising agents: aldehydes or ketones. Include the product formed.
React with aldehydes to produce carboxylic acids
Name 2 reagents you can use to test for aldehydes
Tollens’ reagent
Fehling’s solution
What is Tollens’ reagent?
Colourless solution of silver nitrate dissolved in aqueous ammonia
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Name 2 carbonyl compounds | Aldehydes and ketones (both contain carbonyl functional group C=O) |
Draw an aldehyde | |
Draw a ketone | |
State which compound reacts with oxidising agents: aldehydes or ketones. Include the product formed. | React with aldehydes to produce carboxylic acids |
Name 2 reagents you can use to test for aldehydes |
|
What is Tollens’ reagent? | Colourless solution of silver nitrate dissolved in aqueous ammonia |
Describe what happens when Tollens’ reagent is heated in a test tube with an aldehyde |
|
What is Fehling’s solution? | Blue solution of copper(II) ions dissolved in sodium hydroxide |
Describe what happens to Fehling’s solution when it’s heated with an aldehyde | Copper(II) ions are reduced to brick-red precipitate of copper(I) oxide |
When primary alcohols are oxidised, what products are produced? | Aldehydes and carboxylic acids (Can use reducing agent to reverse these reactions) |
When secondary alcohols are oxidised, what product is produced? | Ketones (Can use reducing agent to reverse these reactions) |
State a reducing agent you can use to reduce aldehydes and ketones | NaBH4 dissolved in water with methanol |
In equations, what does the [H] stand for? | Hydrogen from reducing agent |
Write an equation showing the reduction of an aldehyde to a primary alcohol. Draw molecules in displayed formula. | |
Write an equation showing the reduction of a ketone to a secondary alcohol. Draw molecules in displayed formula. | |
Draw the reaction mechanism for the reduction of an aldehyde to a primary alcohol. Include the name of the reaction mechanism. | Nucleophilic addition H- ion acts a nucleophile and adds on δ+ on carbon atom |
When potassium cyanide reacts with carbonyl compounds, what products are produced? | Hydroxynitriles (molecules with CN and OH) |
What type of reaction mechanism occurs when potassium cyanide reacts with carbonyl compounds? | Nucleophilic addition reaction |
When potassium cyanide reacts with carbonyl compounds, why it is considered a nucleophilic addition reaction? | ∵ nucleophile attacks the molecule & add itself as an extra group |
Write an equation for when potassium cyanide dissociates in water |
|
Draw the reaction mechanism for when potassium cyanide reacts with a ketone | |
Write the overall equation for when potassium cyanide reacts with aldehydes | |
Write the overall equation for when potassium cyanide reacts with ketones | |
When you react potassium cyanide with an unsymmetrical ketone or any aldehyde (expect methanal), what will you produce? | Mixture of enantiomers |
Describe how potassium cyanide is hazardous |
|
State what you can do to reduce the risks of potassium cyanide | Wear gloves, safety goggles and lab coat & perform experiment in fun cupboard |
Write the overall equation for the addition of hydrogen cyanide to an aldehyde | RCHO + HCN → RCH(OH)CN |