ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Chapter 16 16.6B Relative Reactivity: Aldehydes versus ketones 9 In general, aldehyde are more reactive in nucleophilic addition than are ketones C R H R R Aldehyde Ketone Carbonyl carbon is Carbonyl carbon is more positive less positive Department of Chemistry, Xiamen UniversityORGANIC CHEMISTRY Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University Chapter 16 16.6B Relative Reactivity: Aldehydes versus Ketones In general, aldehyde are more reactive in nucleophilic addition than are ketones. R C H O δ+ δ− R C R O δ+ δ− Aldehyde Ketone Carbonyl carbon is more positive Carbonyl carbon is less positive