Aldehydes are organic compounds characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group ($C=O$) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. They have the general formula $RCHO$, where $R$ can be a hydrogen atom or any alkyl or aryl group.
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Aldehydes undergo nucleophilic addition reactions due to the electrophilic nature of the carbonyl carbon.
The simplest aldehyde is formaldehyde, with the chemical formula $HCHO$.
Aldehydes can be oxidized to carboxylic acids using oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate ($KMnO_4$) or chromic acid ($H_2CrO_4$).
In naming aldehydes, the suffix '-al' is used, and the parent hydrocarbon chain must include the carbonyl group's carbon atom.
Aldehydes generally have higher boiling points than alkanes and ethers but lower than alcohols due to dipole-dipole interactions.