Question

Write a chemical equation for the following reaction: 
Propanone is treated with dilute Ba( OH)₂.

Answer 1

This is a self-aldol condensation reaction. 

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{............}\ce{CH3} \phantom{........................}\ce{CH3}\phantom{}\\
\phantom{..........................}|\phantom{............................}|\phantom{.................}\\
\ce{\underset{\text{Acetone or propanone}}{2CH3COCH3}<-->[Dil. Ba(OH)2] CH3-C-CH2-CO-CH3->[ ][\Delta]CH3-\underset{\text{4-methyl pent-3-en-2-one}}{C=CH-CO-CH3 }+ H2O}\\
\phantom{..................................}|\phantom{........................} \text{(Aldol condensation product)}\phantom{..}\\
\ce{\underset{\text{4-Hydroxy-4-methyl pentan-2-one(ketol)}}{OH}}\phantom{...................}\\
\end{array}\]