Final answer:
The general formula for an aldehyde is R-CHO, which signifies a hydrogen (H) and a hydrocarbon (R) single bonded to a carbonyl carbon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general formula of an aldehyde is R-CHO. An aldehyde has either two hydrogens or a hydrogen and a hydrocarbon (R) single bonded with the carbonyl carbon, symbolized as R-C-H. The condensed form of the aldehyde group is -CHO. This structure differentiates aldehydes from ketones, which are represented as R-CO-R' and have two hydrocarbon groups bonded with the carbonyl carbon.
An aldehyde has the general formula R-CHO. It consists of a carbonyl group (-C=O) with a hydrogen atom (H) and a hydrocarbon group (R) bonded to the carbon atom. For example, CH3CHO is the condensed formula for ethanal, which is a common aldehyde.