Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Mind Map

The carbonyl group is a carbon-oxygen double bond, C=O. Aldehydes contain the group -CHO at the end of a carbon chain, while ketones contain the group >C=O within the chain.

First identify whether the C=O carbon is terminal or internal. Terminal C=O with H gives aldehyde; internal C=O between two carbon groups gives ketone.

Aldehydes and ketones can be prepared by controlled oxidation of alcohols, ozonolysis of alkenes, hydration of alkynes, and selective reduction methods such as Rosenmund and Stephen reactions.

For conversions, decide whether the carbon skeleton must be preserved, cleaved, or reduced. This usually identifies the correct preparation route.

Nucleophilic addition is the reaction in which a nucleophile attacks the electron-deficient carbonyl carbon, followed by protonation or further reaction to form an addition product.

In product prediction, keep the original carbonyl carbon and convert C=O into C-OH plus the new group attached to carbon.

Distinguishing tests use characteristic observations to identify aldehydes, ketones, or specific carbonyl compounds such as methyl ketones.

Write both the reagent and the observation. Test-based answers are incomplete if the visible observation is missing.

Carboxylic acids are organic compounds containing the -COOH group. They can be prepared by oxidation of alcohols or aldehydes, hydrolysis of nitriles, and related routes, and they are acidic due to resonance stabilisation of the carboxylate ion.

For acidity order, compare electron-withdrawing strength, distance of substituent from -COOH, and number of electron-withdrawing groups.

Carboxylic acids undergo reactions such as esterification, reduction, alpha-halogenation through the HVZ reaction, and decarboxylation under suitable conditions.

Before writing a carboxylic acid reaction, check whether the question asks for ester formation, reduction to alcohol, alpha substitution, or loss of CO2.