Research topic: carbonyl group

carbonyl group , in chemistry, functional group that consists of an oxygen atom joined by a double bond to a carbon atom. The carbon atom is joined to the remainder of the molecule by two single bonds or one double bond. If the carbonyl group is joined only to alkyl groups or aryl groups , the compound is a ketone ; if it is joined to at least one hydrogen atom, the compound is an aldehyde . The chemical reactivity of aldehydes and ketones is primarily due to the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen. Because oxygen has the greater affinity for electrons, it... Read more