The reduction of ketones is a chemical process in which a ketone, characterized by a carbonyl group ($$C=O$$) bonded to two other carbon atoms, is converted into a corresponding alcohol through the gain of electrons or hydrogen. This transformation typically involves the addition of a reducing agent, such as lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride, which donates hydride ions ($$H^-$$) to the carbonyl carbon. Understanding this process is crucial as it illustrates the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and the reactivity of carbonyl compounds.