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What functional group is found in an aldehyde?

User Vmg
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Final answer:

An aldehyde contains the -CHO group which is characterized by a carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen and a carbonyl group (C=O). This functional group is key in organic chemistry for its reactivity and properties.

Step-by-step explanation:

The functional group found in an aldehyde is the -CHO group, which is a form of the carbonyl group. An aldehyde's structure consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (forming the carbonyl) and single-bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. This can be represented as R-C2O, where R can be either a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group. The presence of the hydrogen atom distinguishes aldehydes from ketones, which have two carbon groups attached to the carbonyl carbon atom instead. Functional groups like aldehydes play a vital role in organic chemistry as they largely determine the chemical reactivity and properties of molecules.

User QAH
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An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a group with the structure −CHO, consisting of a carbonyl center with the carbon atom also bonded to hydrogen and to an R group
User Maxpill
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