Aldehydes and ketones are commonly prepared by the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols, respectively.

Carbonyl compounds have a planar structure with a π-bond, leading to substantial dipole moments. The high polarity is explained by resonance, involving neutral (A) and dipolar (B) structures, contributing to the overall dipole moment of carbonyl compounds.

The double bond is polarized due to the higher electronegativity of oxygen. The carbonyl carbon acts as an electrophilic (Lewis acid), and the carbonyl oxygen serves as a nucleophilic (Lewis base) center.

Nucleophilic addition involves attack by a nucleophile on the electrophilic carbon of the carbonyl group, changing the hybridization of the carbonyl carbon from sp² to sp³. This process forms a tetrahedral alkoxide intermediate that captures a proton to yield the ...

Aldehydes and ketones undergo nucleophilic addition reactions, whereas alkenes experience electrophilic addition reactions.