Final answer:
Aldehydes and ketones can form weak hydrogen bonds with water through the carbonyl oxygen atom. Their boiling points are generally lower than those of alcohols. Aldehydes and ketones are polar molecules due to the electronegative oxygen atom.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aldehydes and ketones can form weak hydrogen bonds with water through the carbonyl oxygen atom. The lower members of both series (3 carbons or fewer) are soluble in water in all proportions. However, as the length of the carbon chain increases, water solubility decreases.
Aldehydes and ketones cannot hydrogen bond with themselves, hence their boiling points are generally lower compared to alcohols. Nevertheless, aldehydes and ketones are polar molecules due to the electronegative oxygen atom, resulting in stronger dipole-dipole interactions compared to the dispersion forces in alkanes. The boiling points of aldehydes and ketones are intermediate between those of alkanes and alcohols.