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A ketone is either the functional group characterized by a carbonyl group linked to two other carbon atoms or a compound that contains this functional group. A ketone can be generally represented by the formula:
A carbonyl carbon bonded to two carbon atoms distinguishes ketones from carboxylic acids, aldehydes, esters, amides, and other oxygen-containing compounds. The double bond of the carbonyl group distinguishes ketones from alcohols and ethers.
The smallest ketone is acetone:
The ketone functional group is a carbonyl group bonded to two carbon atoms.
A carbonyl group consists of a carbon atom doubly bonded to an oxygen atom.
A carbon atom adjacent to a carbonyl group is called an α carbon. Hydrogens attached to this carbon are called α hydrogens.
The carbonyl group is also found in:
Ketones are named using IUPAC nomenclatureIUPAC nomenclature is a systematic way of naming organic chemical compounds. Ideally, every organic compound should have a name from which an unambiguous structural formula can be drawn. In IUPAC nomenclature, a number of prefixes, suffixes and infixes ar by changing the suffix -e of the parent alkaneAn alkane in organic chemistry is a type of hydrocarbon in which the molecule has the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms and so has no double bonds (they are saturated). The generic formula for acyclic alkanes, also known as aliphatic hydrocarbons to -one.
A carbonyl group is polar. This makes ketones polar compounds. The carbonyl groups interact with water by hydrogen bonding.
Ketones can be created by oxidation of secondary alcohols. The process requires a strong oxidising agent such as potassium dichromate or other reagent containing Cr(VI). The alcohol is oxidised by heating under reflux in acidified solution. For example 2-propanol is oxidised to propanone (acetone):
H3C-CH(OH)-CH3 → H3C-CO-CH3
Two atoms of hydrogen are removed, leaving a single oxygen atom double bonded to a carbon atom.
ketone + nucleophile → tetrahedral carbonyl addition compound