Organic compounds such as methanal and ethanal are classified as aldehydes because they contain which characteristic functional group?
-CHO
Aldehydes are organic compounds characterised by the presence of the -CHO functional group, called the carbonyl group attached to a hydrogen atom, at the end of a carbon chain.
Methanal (HCHO) and ethanal (CH3CHO) both contain this -CHO group, which gives them their characteristic reactivity, such as reducing Fehling's and Tollens' reagents.
The -CO- group represents a ketone linkage, -COOH represents a carboxylic acid group, and -OH represents an alcohol group, none of which define an aldehyde.
Therefore, methanal and ethanal are classified as aldehydes because they contain the -CHO functional group.
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