Video Summary

Aldehydes are organic compounds containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. The general formula is RCHO, where R can be a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group. They are characterized by their reactivity due to the polar carbonyl group, which makes them susceptible to nucleophilic addition reactions. The simplest aldehyde is formaldehyde (HCHO), followed by acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) and other higher homologues. Aldehydes are commonly found in nature and are produced through various chemical processes. They play essential roles in various biological pathways and are used extensively in the chemical industry as starting materials for the synthesis of many useful products, including resins, polymers, and solvents. The presence of the aldehyde functional group can be identified through chemical tests like Tollen's test and Fehling's test, which are based on the aldehyde's ability to reduce metal ions. Aldehydes also exhibit characteristic spectral features in IR and NMR spectroscopy that can be used for identification and structural elucidation.