Cheat sheet · NEET Preparation Chemistry

Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids cheat sheet

The whole chapter on one page: key formulas, facts and the points to remember, for quick revision before a test.

NEET · Chemistry

Cheat sheet

Class 12 · Chapter 8Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Tollens' and Fehling's say ‘aldehyde’; iodoform says ‘CH₃CO–’.

1. Carbonyls

  • Nucleophilic addition: HCN, NaHSO₃, Grignard, alcohols (acetals).
  • Aldehydes more reactive than ketones.
  • Aldol: α-H compounds with dil. NaOH.
  • Cannizzaro: no α-H, conc. NaOH (HCHO, PhCHO).

2. Name Reactions

ReactionChange
Rosenmundacyl chloride → aldehyde (H₂, Pd/BaSO₄)
Stephennitrile → aldehyde (SnCl₂/HCl)
Etardtoluene → benzaldehyde (CrO₂Cl₂)
ClemmensenC=O → CH₂ (Zn-Hg/HCl)
Wolff–KishnerC=O → CH₂ (NH₂NH₂, KOH)
HVZα-halogenation of acids

3. Tests

  • Tollens': silver mirror (aldehydes).
  • Fehling's: red Cu₂O (aliphatic aldehydes).
  • Iodoform: yellow CHI₃ (methyl ketones, ethanal).

4. Carboxylic Acids

  • Acidity: EWG increases (Cl₃CCOOH > ClCH₂COOH > CH₃COOH).
  • Decarboxylation with soda lime.
  • Form esters, amides, anhydrides, acyl chlorides.

5. Key Points

  • Formic acid gives Tollens' test.
  • Acids are dimers (H-bonding).
  • Benzoic acid: meta substitution.
  • NaHCO₃ test: effervescence for acids.

Remember: Nucleophilic addition | name reactions | tests | acidity

Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids: questions and notes

More NEET Preparation Chemistry cheat sheets

Practise Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Sign up free to practise the full chapter. Questions you get wrong come back until you've mastered them.

Start practising free

Free to start · No credit card needed