Some ketones have historical common names, the simplest dimethyl ketone is called acetone. Alkyl phenyl ketones are usually named by adding the name of acyl group as prefix to the word phenone.

Common names of ketones involve naming two alkyl or aryl groups bonded to the carbonyl group. Greek letters (α, α’, β, β’, etc.) indicate the locations of substituents, starting with the carbon atoms next to the carbonyl group.

Common names of aldehydes are derived from corresponding carboxylic acids by replacing “-ic” with “aldehyde.” They often reflect the original source of the acid and indicate the location of substituents with Greek letters.

Aldehydes play an important role in biochemical processes of life. They add fragrance and flavour to nature, for example, vanillin (from vanilla beans), salicylaldehyde (from meadow sweet) and cinnamaldehyde (from cinnamon) have very pleasant fragrances.

The carbonyl compounds in which carbon of carbonyl group is bonded to carbon or hydrogen and oxygen of hydroxyl moiety (-OH) are known as carboxylic acids, while in compounds where carbon is attached to carbon or hydrogen and nitrogen of ...