Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Class 12 Chemistry · Chemistry Part II · Chapter 3

CBSE Class 12 Board Examination community

View all
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Chemistry
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics, Chemistry, Maths + English
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics, Chemistry, Biology + English
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics + English
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Accountancy
  • Business Studies
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Physics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • History
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Hindi Elective
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • हिंदी
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Mathematics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Sociology
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Economics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Home Science
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Urdu Elective
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • اردو
  • Urdu Elective
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Geography
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Accountancy
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
English Core
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Flamingo
  • Vistas
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Political Science
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Business Studies
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Hindi Core
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • हिंदी
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (आधार)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
اردو (اختیاری)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (आधार)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
संस्कृतम् (केन्द्रिकम्)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
संस्कृत (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
اردو (کور)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Urdu Elective
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Computer Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Fine Art · Painting
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (गायन / वादन)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Biology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Informatics Practices
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Biotechnology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
सृजनात्मक लेखन और अनुवाद
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (तबला / पखावज)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Elective · Kaleidoscope
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Psychology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Core · Flamingo
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Core · Vistas
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Browse all 64 kits →

Summary

This unit deals with organic compounds containing the carbonyl group (>C=O) and the carboxyl group (-COOH). In aldehydes the carbonyl carbon is bonded to at least one hydrogen, in ketones it is bonded to two carbon atoms, and in carboxylic acids the carbon bears a hydroxyl as well, giving -COOH. These compounds are named by common and IUPAC systems. Aldehydes and ketones are prepared by oxidation of alcohols, ozonolysis of alkenes, hydration of alkynes and from acid derivatives; carboxylic acids are prepared by oxidation of primary alcohols and aldehydes, and from nitriles, Grignard reagents and acyl derivatives. The carbonyl carbon, being electron deficient, is attacked by nucleophiles, so aldehydes and ketones undergo nucleophilic addition reactions (with HCN, alcohols, ammonia derivatives) and the alpha-hydrogen makes them acidic enough for aldol and related condensations; aldehydes are more reactive and are readily oxidised, distinguishing them from ketones by Tollens' and Fehling's tests. Carboxylic acids are appreciably acidic because the carboxylate ion is resonance stabilised, and electron-withdrawing groups increase the acidity. They form salts, esters, anhydrides, acid chlorides and amides. These carbonyl and carboxyl compounds are constituents of perfumes, plastics, dyes, drugs and many foods.

Structure and nomenclature of carbonyl and carboxyl compoundsPreparation of aldehydes and ketonesNucleophilic addition reactionsOxidation, reduction and distinguishing testsAcidity of carboxylic acidsReactions and uses of carboxylic acids

Key terms

Carbonyl group
The >C=O group present in aldehydes and ketones, polar and electron deficient at carbon.
Nucleophilic addition
Addition of a nucleophile to the electron-deficient carbonyl carbon of aldehydes and ketones.
Aldol condensation
Reaction of carbonyl compounds bearing alpha-hydrogen to give beta-hydroxy carbonyl compounds, then enones.
Tollens' test
Reaction with ammoniacal silver nitrate giving a silver mirror, used to detect aldehydes.
Carboxyl group
The -COOH group of carboxylic acids, combining a carbonyl and a hydroxyl.
Esterification
Acid-catalysed reaction of a carboxylic acid with an alcohol to give an ester.

Extra questions & answers

Try one from this chapter
In an aldehyde, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to:
Flashcards & interactive practice

Practice quiz · Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Score on this chapter, climb the leaderboard, and get an AI diagnosis of your mistakes.

Dual AI-verified questions Real exam pattern 1 free quiz every month, then ₹9 per quiz — or a monthly plan

#1

Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Start here
Chemistry 10 Qs · ~10 min

Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis

Data & insights