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How do weak bases react to aldehydes and ketones?

A. Form a covalent bond

B. Undergo oxidation

C. Act as reducing agents

D. Form hydrogen bonds

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Weak bases react with aldehydes and ketones by forming a covalent bond through nucleophilic addition, leading to various reactions, including the reduction of aldehydes to alcohols; therefore, the correct answer is A. Form a covalent bond.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking how weak bases react to aldehydes and ketones. The options given are forming a covalent bond, undergoing oxidation, acting as reducing agents, and forming hydrogen bonds. Weak bases typically react with aldehydes and ketones through the mechanism of nucleophilic addition, where a Lewis base donates an electron pair to the electrophilic carbon in the polar C=O bond, resulting in a covalent bond. This process can lead to various reactions, including the reduction of aldehydes to alcohols, but since this is not explicitly reducing the aldehyde or ketone, option C is not correct for the case of weak bases. The reaction does not involve the removal of a hydrogen atom or the oxidation of the aldehyde or ketone to a carboxylic acid, which rules out options B and D as well. Hence, the most appropriate answer is A. Form a covalent bond.

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