Final answer:
Ketones and aldehydes display dipole-dipole interactions and can form weak hydrogen bonds with water, contributing to their unique boiling points and solubility characteristics compared to alkanes and alcohols.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ketones and aldehydes primarily exhibit dipole-dipole interactions due to their polar carbonyl group (C=O). They can also engage in weak hydrogen bonding with water molecules, but not with themselves. Both aldehydes and ketones show higher boiling points than alkanes but lower than alcohols with similar molar masses, due to the presence of the more electronegative oxygen atom. The polar nature of the carbonyl group also leads to greater water solubility in smaller aldehydes and ketones.
Aldehydes are characterized by their ability to be readily oxidized to carboxylic acids, while ketones tend to resist oxidation. This difference in reactivity is an important aspect of their behavior in various chemical reactions and biochemical processes.