Ketones

Ketones represent a significant class of compounds defined by a key structural feature: a carbonyl group (C=O). Crucially, within a ketone molecule, the carbon atom of the carbonyl group is directly bonded to *two* other carbon atoms, distinguishing them fundamentally from aldehydes. Aldehydes, conversely, possess a carbonyl group bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. The simplest and most commonly cited example of a ketone is acetone, also known as propanone, represented by the chemical formula (CH₃)₂CO. This structural difference – the double carbon-oxygen bond versus a carbon-hydrogen-oxygen bond – dictates the differing chemical reactivity of these two classes of organic compounds. Understanding this distinction is foundational to grasping many organic reactions and properties.