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AQA A Level Chemistry

3.3.8
Aldehydes
and Ketones

Section 3.3.8 covers aldehydes and ketones: aldehydes are readily oxidised to carboxylic acids, which is the basis of the tests with Fehling’s solution and Tollens’ reagent; both are reduced by NaBH₄ in aqueous solution; and both undergo nucleophilic addition with KCN followed by dilute acid to give hydroxynitriles, which can form as a mixture of enantiomers.

Exam Paper
Paper 2
7405/2 (and Paper 3)
Specification Points
3.3.8
1 section covered
Sub-topics
3 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
AQA
7405 (2015 onwards)

Revision Notes

3 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.

An aldehyde beside a ketone with their C=O groups picked out
1

Aldehydes and Ketones: Structure, Naming and Properties

Aldehydes and ketones: functional groups, nomenclature and formulae, the polar carbonyl group, boiling points and solubility in water.

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A carbonyl molecule and a silver mirror test
2

Oxidation and Tests for Carbonyl Compounds

Oxidation and tests for aldehydes and ketones: Fehling’s solution, Tollens’ reagent, acidified dichromate(VI).

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A nucleophile adding to a carbon-oxygen double bond
3

Reduction and Nucleophilic Addition of Carbonyl Compounds

Carbonyl reduction with NaBH₄ and nucleophilic addition of HCN: equations, the mechanism and the formation of hydroxynitriles.

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Summary Map

Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.

Summary maps

Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.

Illustration of a summary map: compounds joined by reaction arrows
Summary map · PDF

Aldehydes and Ketones Map

AQA A Level Chemistry · 3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones

Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.

Download the map3 reactions · A4 portrait · print ready
Illustration of a summary map: compounds joined by reaction arrows
Summary map · PDF

Aldehydes and Ketones Summary Map

AQA A-level Chemistry · 3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones

The whole section on one A4 page: oxidising aldehydes, telling them apart, reduction with NaBH₄, the mechanism, KCN then dilute acid, and KCN hazards.

Download the map6 key ideas + a data table · A4 portrait · print ready

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Revision Game

Match reagents to products, free, with your board's reagents and conditions.

Illustration of memory game cards, two turned face up as a matching pairFree

Revision Game: Aldehydes and ketones

Turn the cards over two at a time: match reagents to what they make, and find how each product is made.

A free memory game on the reactions in this topic, with your board's reagents, conditions and spec points.

  • Two ways to playMatch each set of reagents to what the reaction makes, or see a product and find the reactant and reagents that make it.
  • Drawn the way the exam draws themEvery structure is drawn in ChemDraw, with the reagents and conditions your exam board asks for.
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Study Cards

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Specification

Every specification point in this topic, in the exam board's own words. Rate how confident you are with each one.

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Self-assessment · 13 points

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3.3.8

  1. i

    know that aldehydes are readily oxidised to carboxylic acids

    Revise
  2. ii a

    use Fehling's solution to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones

    Revise
  3. ii b

    use Tollens' reagent to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones

    Revise
  4. iii a

    know that aldehydes can be reduced to primary alcohols using NaBH4 in aqueous solution as examples of nucleophilic addition

    Revise
  5. iii b

    know that ketones can be reduced to secondary alcohols using NaBH4 in aqueous solution as examples of nucleophilic addition

    Revise
  6. iv a

    write overall equations for reduction reactions of aldehydes using [H] as the reductant

    Revise
  7. iv b

    write overall equations for reduction reactions of ketones using [H] as the reductant

    Revise
  8. ix

    explain why nucleophilic addition reactions of KCN followed by dilute acid can produce a mixture of enantiomers

    Revise
  9. v

    outline the nucleophilic addition mechanism for reduction reactions with NaBH4 (the nucleophile shown as H-)

    Revise
  10. vi

    know the nucleophilic addition reactions of carbonyl compounds with KCN followed by dilute acid to produce hydroxynitriles

    Revise
  11. vii

    write overall equations for the formation of hydroxynitriles using HCN

    Revise
  12. viii

    outline the nucleophilic addition mechanism for the reaction with KCN followed by dilute acid

    Revise
  13. x

    know the hazards of using KCN

    Revise