Barrons SAT Subject Test Chemistry, 13th Edition

Other alcohols with more than one —OH group:

Aldehydes

The functional group of an aldehyde is the , formyl group. The general
formula is RCHO, where R represents a hydrocarbon radical.

TIP

The aldehyde functional group is

A formyl group is attached to an alkyl stem.

PREPARATION FROM AN ALCOHOL. Aldehydes can be prepared by the oxidation of
an alcohol. This can be done by inserting a hot copper wire into the alcohol. A
typical reaction is: