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Questions
Why is the α-hydrogens of aldehydes and ketones are acidic in nature?
Account for the following:
The alpha (α)-hydrogens of aldehydes and ketones are acidic in nature.
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Solution
Because of the strong electron-withdrawing nature of the carbonyl groups and the resonance stabilisation of the conjugate base, aldehydes and ketones are acidic in nature.

| \[\begin{array}{cc} \ce{R}\phantom{..........}\\ \backslash\phantom{........}\\ \ce{C = O}\\ /\phantom{........}\\ \ce{H}\phantom{..........}\\ \end{array}\] |
\[\begin{array}{cc} \ce{R}\phantom{..........}\\ \backslash\phantom{........}\\ \ce{C = O}\\ /\phantom{........}\\ \ce{R}\phantom{..........}\\ \end{array}\] |
| Aldehyde | Ketone |
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RELATED QUESTIONS
What is meant by the following term? Give an example of the reaction in the following case.
Aldol
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