An aldehyde is an organic compound that contains a carbonyl group (a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen) with at least one hydrogen atom attached to the carbon of the carbonyl group. It has the general formula RCHO, where R represents any organic substituent.
Related terms
Carbonyl Group: A functional group composed of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, and it is central to various organic compounds including aldehydes and ketones.
An organic compound similar to an aldehyde but with the carbonyl group bonded to two other carbon atoms instead of at least one hydrogen atom.
Organic Compound: A chemically defined substance containing carbon atoms bonded together in molecules, which can include a wide range of structures and functionalities including aldehydes