Organic Chemistry #12: Synthesis and Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones (Slides and Tasks)

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Understand the properties of aldehydes and ketones as carbonyl compounds by investigating their synthesis and key chemical reactions.

In this lesson we investigate the carbonyl compounds aldehydes and ketones by discussing their synthesis via the oxidation of alcohols, their reduction back to the corresponding alcohol and their nucleophilic addition reactions with cyanide. This is lesson twelve in our organic chemistry series of Unit 18: Carbonyl compounds (from the Cambridge International AS Chemistry Curriculum (9701) 2019-2021 curriculum).

Learning Outcomes:
(taken from the Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry (9701) 2019-2021 curriculum)
18.1 Aldehydes and ketones
a) describe:
i) the formation of aldehydes and ketones from primary and secondary alcohols respectively using Cr2O72-/H+
ii) the reduction of aldehydes and ketones, e.g. using NaBH4 or LiAlH4
iii) the reaction of aldehydes and ketones with HCN and NaCN or KCN

b) describe the mechanism of the nucleophilic addition reactions of hydrogen cyanide with aldehydes and ketones