In aldehydes and ketones

Options

A. Carbonyl carbon is nucleophilic and carbonyl oxygen is electrophilic
B. Carbonyl carbon, is slectrophilic and carbonyl oxygen is nucleophilic
C. Both are electrophilic
D. Both are nucleophilic

Answer

To determine the nature of the carbonyl carbon and carbonyl oxygen in aldehydes and ketones, we can analyze the structure and behavior of these compounds. Here's a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand the Structure of Aldehydes and Ketones
Aldehydes and ketones contain a carbonyl group (C=O). In aldehydes, the carbonyl group is at the end of the carbon chain, while in ketones, it is located within the carbon chain.

### Step 2: Identify the Electrophilic and Nucleophilic Sites
- **Electrophilic Site**: The carbon atom in the carbonyl group (C=O) is electrophilic due to the partial positive charge it carries. This occurs because the oxygen atom is more electronegative than carbon, pulling electron density towards itself and leaving the carbon atom electron-deficient.
- **Nucleophilic Site**: The oxygen atom in the carbonyl group carries a partial negative charge due to the higher electronegativity. This makes the oxygen atom nucleophilic, as it can donate a pair of electrons.

### Step 3: Analyze the Electron Movement
When a nucleophile approaches the carbonyl carbon, it can donate electrons to the electrophilic carbon, leading to the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. This is a key step in many reactions involving aldehydes and ketones.

### Step 4: Conclusion
From the above analysis, we conclude that:
- The carbonyl carbon is electrophilic.
- The carbonyl oxygen is nucleophilic.

### Final Answer
The correct statement is: **The carbonyl carbon is electrophilic and the carbonyl oxygen is nucleophilic.**

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