How do aldehydes and ketones differ from alcohol?

1 Answer
Sep 7, 2016

An alternative means of differentiation is to consider the degree of oxidation of the ipso carbon.

Explanation:

Aldehydes and ketones are the oxidation products of alcohols, and we could assign formal oxdation states.

The oxidation state of the ipso carbon in H3CCH2OH is I; in H3CC(=O)H, +I, and in H3CC(=O)OH, +III. Of course +III represents its maximum oxidation state (CO2 can be formed, but here the chain is broken).

By comparison, we could assign the formal oxidation numbers of carbon in say propane or butane: H3IIICIICH2CH3, or H3IIICIICH2IICH2CH3

Certainly we use oxidizing agents to synthesize ketones and aldehydes from alcohols.