Aldehydes (RCHO)

Definition

Aldehydes are a class of organic compounds characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. They are derived from alkanes by the replacement of a hydrogen atom with the aldehyde functional group (-CHO).

Related terms

Carbonyl Group: A functional group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, key to both aldehydes and ketones' structure.

Ketones:

Organic compounds where the carbonyl group is bonded to two carbon atoms, differing from aldehydes which have at least one hydrogen atom attached.

Functional Groups:

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules