Carbonyl Compounds

Carbon-Oxygen Double Bond

   Carbonyl compounds, that is, aldehydes and ketones, are classes of organic compounds which contain a carbon atom doubly bonded to oxygen.

   The functional group of carbonyl compounds is the carbonyl group, which determines the chemistry of these compounds and this is why aldehydes and ketones are collectively called carbonyl compounds.

•  In aldehydes, the carbonyl carbon is linked to one hydrogen atom and one alkyl group(Formaldehyde, in which -CO is joined to two H atoms being an exception).

• On the other hand, in ketones, the -CO group is linked to two alkyl groups.

   The carbonyl group is made up of a sigma bond and a pi-bond. It is polar due to oxygen's greater electronegativity.