Carbonyl compounds when oxidized easily to form carboxylic group involves aldehydes.

Aldehydes are a type of carbonyl compound that contains a carbonyl group (-C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. When aldehydes are oxidized, they undergo a chemical reaction that converts the carbonyl group into a carboxylic group (-COOH). This process is known as oxidation of aldehydes.

Process of oxidation of aldehydes to form carboxylic acids:

1. Oxidizing agents: Aldehydes can be oxidized by various oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate (KMnO4), potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), or chromic acid (H2CrO4). These oxidizing agents provide the necessary oxygen atoms to convert the carbonyl group to a carboxylic group.

2. Reaction conditions: The oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids generally requires the presence of an acidic medium. The acidic conditions facilitate the reaction by protonating the carbonyl oxygen, making it more susceptible to attack by the oxidizing agent.

3. Formation of intermediate: Initially, the aldehyde is converted to an intermediate compound known as an aldehyde hydrate. This compound contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the carbonyl carbon. The aldehyde hydrate is formed by the addition of a water molecule to the carbonyl group.

4. Oxidation of aldehyde hydrate: The aldehyde hydrate is further oxidized by the oxidizing agent, resulting in the removal of two hydrogen atoms. This oxidation step leads to the formation of a carboxylic acid.

5. End product: The final product of the oxidation reaction is a carboxylic acid, which contains a carboxyl group (-COOH) attached to the carbon chain. The carboxylic acid retains the same carbon skeleton as the original aldehyde but with an additional oxygen atom.

Example:

One example of the oxidation of an aldehyde to a carboxylic acid is the oxidation of formaldehyde (CH2O) to formic acid (HCOOH). In the presence of an oxidizing agent such as potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and under acidic conditions, formaldehyde is oxidized to formic acid:

CH2O + 2[O] + H2O → HCOOH

In this reaction, the aldehyde group in formaldehyde is converted to a carboxyl group in formic acid.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, carbonyl compounds, specifically aldehydes, can be easily oxidized to form carboxylic acids. This oxidation process involves the conversion of the carbonyl group to a carboxyl group, resulting in the formation of a carboxylic acid. The reaction requires the presence of an oxidizing agent and an acidic medium to proceed efficiently.