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infoWhy this? Aldehydes and ketones reveal how the polar carbonyl group governs nucleophilic addition and reduction, while their contrasting oxidation behaviour helps distinguish them. Their reactions expand the range of transformations available for identifying and synthesising organic compounds.

scheduleWhy now? Alcohol oxidation already provides routes to aldehydes and ketones, while bonding and earlier mechanisms support explanations of carbonyl polarity and nucleophilic attack. Recent work on optical isomerism also helps us interpret products formed when addition creates a chiral centre.