Question

Aldehydes are readily oxidised to yield carboxylic acids but ketones are inert to oxidation. Which is the most likely explanation regarding this difference in reactivity?

Options

• Aldehydes have a proton attached to the carbonyl that is abstracted during oxidation. Ketones lack this proton and so, cannot oxidised.

• Reducing agents like HNO₃ are sterically hindered by ketohe's carbonyl carbon.

• Aldehydes and ketones are of similar hybridisation.

• The rate of the forward oxidation reaction is equal to the rate of the reverse reduction reaction in ketones.

Answer 1

Aldehydes have a proton attached to the carbonyl that is abstracted during oxidation. Ketones lack this proton and so, cannot oxidised.