ORGANIC CHEMISTRY · EXAM PREPARATION

Carbonyl Chemistry Exam Review

Differentiate addition, oxidation, reduction, esterification and acyl substitution.

Step-by-step teachingPractice + explanationsPrintable review

1. Understand the Concept

Aldehydes and ketones usually undergo nucleophilic addition at the carbonyl carbon. Acyl derivatives have a leaving group at that carbon and can undergo nucleophilic acyl substitution.

Your goal: Differentiate addition, oxidation, reduction, esterification and acyl substitution.

2. Step-by-Step Exam Strategy

1. Identify the starting functional group

Ketones, aldehydes, esters, acyl chlorides and amides react differently.

2. Recognize the nucleophile or oxidant

NaBH₄ adds hydride to ketones and aldehydes; PCC typically oxidizes anhydrous primary alcohol to aldehyde.

3. Track the tetrahedral intermediate

Nucleophiles add to C=O; a good leaving group can be expelled in acyl substitution.

4. Finish workup and check product

Hydride addition requires protonation; Fischer esterification is reversible and acid-catalyzed.

3. Visual Reference

carbonyl chemistry exam reasoning diagram — A concise original teaching visual; follow the complete reasoning above for individual cases.

4. Worked Example

Apply the method

Propanone + NaBH₄; then water

Hydride adds to the carbonyl carbon, producing an alkoxide that is protonated to propan-2-ol. The carbonyl becomes a secondary alcohol.

5. Common Mistakes

Treating a ketone as if it contains a leaving group that is expelled.
Assuming PCC and strong aqueous chromium oxidants give identical products from primary alcohols.
Forgetting acidic workup after Grignard addition.

6. Practice & Reinforcement

Try the interactive questions below. In Practice mode, each answer includes an explanation. In Mock Exam mode, explanations appear after submitting the full set.

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