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Aldehydes are organic molecules with a formyl group, consisting of a carbon atom attached to a hydrogen and oxygen atom. They differ from ketones based on the location of the carbonyl group. Aldehydes have a wide range of physical properties and can be formed from the oxidation of an alcohol. Aldehydes are found in fragrances and essential oils and can be oxidized to form carboxylic acids. Primary alcohols can be oxidized to form aldehydes, while secondary alcohols form ketones and tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized.
Aldehydes are organic molecules, which means they are made up of carbon atoms. They can be differentiated from other organic molecules because they contain an aldehyde or formyl group. This group consists of a carbon atom which is attached to a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom by a single bond and a double bond respectively. Aldehydes are just one of many different types of molecules and organic compounds. They differ greatly in their physical properties and are often formed by the oxidation of an alcohol.
Ketones and aldehydes are very similar in that they both have carbon atoms doubly bonded to oxygen: these are called carbonyl groups. Aldehydes can be differentiated from ketones based on where the carbonyl group is located. It is found at the end of the molecule in an aldehyde, while within the ketone molecule the carbonyl group is found between two other carbon atoms.
The chemical formula of aldehydes is R-CHO, where R represents the remainder of the molecule that is attached to the carbon of the aldehyde group through a single bond. Aldehydes are very common compounds and the simplest is formaldehyde. The chemical structure of formaldehyde is a single hydrogen atom which is bonded once to the carbon of the aldehyde group. It has the chemical formula of CH2O.
The physical properties of aldehydes differ greatly due to the wide range of R groups attached to the -CHO group. It is the rest of the molecule that determines how the aldehyde will look and act. Many different fragrances are aldehydes, and these molecules are also found in many essential oils. Examples include vanilla from the vanilla bean and cinnamaldehyde, which provides the smell and taste of cinnamon.
Aldehydes can be formed from the oxidation of an alcohol. During this chemical reaction, the alcohol loses a hydrogen atom to another molecule – in other words, it has been dehydrogenated. The resulting molecule now has the -CHO group of an aldehyde at the end, instead of the -CH2OH of an alcohol molecule. Through the addition of water, an aldehyde can form an aldehyde hydrate, which is then oxidized to a carboxylic acid. These are common organic acids, such as acetic acid found in vinegar and formic acid produced by ants.
The type of alcohol that undergoes oxidation determines the type of molecule that results. To form aldehydes from alcohol oxidation, a primary alcohol is oxidized or loses a hydrogen atom. Primary alcohols have only one R group attached to the -CH2OH group; there are also secondary and tertiary alcohols, with two and three R groups respectively. When secondary alcohols are oxidized, ketones are obtained. Conversely, tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized.
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