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Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids appeared 45 times across 3 years — 5.4% of Chemistry. This question is from Reactivity towards Nucleophilic Addition.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 14 20 11 45

Which of the following arrangements with respect to their reactivity in nucleophilic addition reaction is correct?

Solution & Explanation

Core Logic

Reactivity in nucleophilic addition reactions is governed by a combination of steric hindrance and electronic effects around the electrophilic carbonyl carbon:

  • Ketones are significantly less reactive than aldehydes due to the bulkiness and electron-donating inductive effect (+I) of their two alkyl/aryl groups. Thus, acetophenone has the lowest reactivity.
  • For substituted benzaldehydes, electron-withdrawing groups heighten the partial positive charge on the carbonyl carbon, accelerating nucleophilic attack. Conversely, electron-donating groups suppress reactivity.
  • Symmetry breakdown structures are shown below:

  • Acetophenone:
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
  • p-tolualdehyde:
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
  • Benzaldehyde:
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
  • p-nitrobenzaldehyde:
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
    Acetophenone structure for reactivity comparison
  • Methoxy/methyl donors decrease reactivity: p-tolualdehyde < benzaldehyde
  • Nitro group (-NO₂) acts as a strong electron-withdrawing agent via both -M and -I pathways, maximizing the electrophilic nature of the carbonyl site. Therefore, p-nitrobenzaldehyde is the most reactive.
  • Thus, the correct order of reactivity is:

acetophenone < p-tolualdehyde < benzaldehyde < p-nitrobenzaldehyde
Pattern Recognition

Aldehydes naturally exhibit higher reactivity than ketones. Electron-withdrawing groups (-NO₂) accelerate addition pathways, whereas electron-donating groups (-CH₃) impede them.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Reference Study Guides

More Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Previous-Year Questions — Page 8

Q jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds
Match List - I with List - II.
List - I (Reactions)List - II (Reagents)
(A) CH₃(CH₂)₅-CO-OC₂H₅ arrow CH₃(CH₂)₅CHO(I) CH₃MgBr, H₂O
(B) C₆H₅COC₆H₅ arrow C₆H₅CH₂C₆H₅(II) Zn(Hg) and conc. HCl
(C) C₆H₅CHO arrow C₆H₅CH(OH)CH₃(III) NaBH₄, H^+
(D) CH₃COCH₂COOC₂H₅ arrow CH₃CH(OH)CH₂COOC₂H₅(IV) DIBAL-H, H₂O
Choose the correct answer from options given below:
Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds
Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds
  • A. A-(III), (B)-(IV), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)
  • B. A-(IV), (B)-(II), (C)-(I), (D)-(III)
  • C. A-(IV), (B)-(II), (C)-(III), (D)-(I)
  • D. A-(III), (B)-(IV), (C)-(II), (D)-(I)

Solution

Core Logic

Let's analyze the transformation happening in each reaction:

(A) CH₃(CH₂)₅COOC₂H₅ arrow CH₃(CH₂)₅CHO An ester is reduced to an aldehyde. This is a selective reduction achieved using DIBAL-H (Diisobutylaluminium hydride) followed by hydrolysis. Thus, (A) arrow (IV).

(B) C₆H₅COC₆H₅ arrow C₆H₅CH₂C₆H₅ A ketone (carbonyl group >C=O) is fully reduced to an alkane (>CH₂) methylene group. This is the Clemmensen reduction, which uses Zinc amalgam and concentrated HCl. Thus, (B) arrow (II).

(C) C₆H₅CHO arrow C₆H₅CH(OH)CH₃ Benzaldehyde (aldehyde) is converted into a secondary alcohol with an extra methyl group. This is a nucleophilic addition of a Grignard reagent (CH₃MgBr) followed by hydrolysis. Thus, (C) arrow (I).

(D) CH₃COCH₂COOC₂H₅ arrow CH₃CH(OH)CH₂COOC₂H₅ A ketone group is reduced to a secondary alcohol while the ester group remains intact. NaBH₄ is a mild reducing agent that reduces aldehydes and ketones but generally does not touch esters. Thus, (D) arrow (III).

Pattern Recognition

Ester arrow Aldehyde = DIBAL-H Ketone arrow Alkane = Clemmensen (Zn(Hg)/HCl) or Wolff-Kishner Carbonyl arrow Alcohol with carbon chain extension = Grignard Reagent Ketone arrow Alcohol (leaving ester intact) = NaBH₄

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Q jee_main_2024_29_jan_morning Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds
The final product A formed in the following multistep reaction sequence is
Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds diagram for Q77 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
A reaction sequence starting with styrene undergoing Markovnikov hydration, followed by oxidation with CrO3, and finally reduction with hydrazine and KOH.
  • A.
  • B.
  • C.
  • D.

Solution

Core Logic

The reaction sequence proceeds in three distinct steps from the starting material, styrene (Ph-CH=CH₂).

Step 1: Acid-catalyzed Hydration Styrene reacts with H₂O, H^+ to undergo electrophilic addition. Protonation yields the more stable secondary benzylic carbocation. Attack by water followed by deprotonation gives 1-phenylethanol (Ph-CH(OH)-CH₃).

Step 2: Oxidation 1-phenylethanol is a secondary alcohol. Treatment with chromium trioxide (CrO₃, Jones reagent condition) oxidizes the secondary alcohol to a ketone. This yields acetophenone (Ph-CO-CH₃).

Step 3: Wolff-Kishner Reduction Acetophenone is treated with hydrazine (NH₂-NH₂) and a strong base (KOH) under heating. This is the classic Wolff-Kishner reduction, which completely reduces the carbonyl group (C=O) to a methylene group (-CH₂-). The final product is ethylbenzene (Ph-CH₂-CH₃).

Step 1: Overall Reaction Pathway

Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds diagram for Q77 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
A reaction sequence starting with styrene undergoing Markovnikov hydration, followed by oxidation with CrO3, and finally reduction with hydrazine and KOH.

The final product A is ethylbenzene.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Hydrocarbons Class 12 Chemistry: Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Q jee_main_2024_29_jan_morning Chemical Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones
From the compounds given below, number of compounds which give positive Fehling's test is _____. Benzaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Acetone, Acetophenone, Methanal, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, cyclohexane carbaldehyde.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 3 to 3

Solution

Core Logic

Fehling's test is a mild oxidizing test used primarily to distinguish aliphatic aldehydes from ketones and aromatic aldehydes.

  • Aliphatic aldehydes (like methanal, acetaldehyde, cyclohexane carbaldehyde) give a positive Fehling's test (formation of red-brown precipitate of Cu₂O).
  • Aromatic aldehydes (like benzaldehyde, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde) lack alpha-hydrogens in a purely aliphatic environment and are not sufficiently easily oxidized to give a positive Fehling's test.
  • Ketones (like acetone, acetophenone) generally do not give a positive Fehling's test (except α-hydroxy ketones).
Step 1: Evaluation of Given Compounds
  • Benzaldehyde: Aromatic aldehyde arrow Negative
  • Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO): Aliphatic aldehyde arrow Positive
  • Acetone: Ketone arrow Negative
  • Acetophenone: Ketone arrow Negative
  • Methanal (HCHO): Aliphatic aldehyde arrow Positive
  • 4-nitrobenzaldehyde: Aromatic aldehyde arrow Negative
  • Cyclohexane carbaldehyde: Aliphatic aldehyde arrow Positive
  • The compounds giving a positive test are Acetaldehyde, Methanal, and Cyclohexane carbaldehyde.

Pattern Recognition

Tollens' reagent oxidizes ALL aldehydes (aliphatic + aromatic). Fehling's reagent is weaker and only oxidizes ALIPHATIC aldehydes.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Q jee_main_2024_30_january_evening Cannizzaro Reaction
m-chlorobenzaldehyde on treatment with 50% KOH solution yields
  • A.
  • B.
  • C.
  • D.

Solution

Core Logic

m-chlorobenzaldehyde lacks alpha-hydrogen atoms. Therefore, when treated with concentrated base like 50% KOH, it undergoes a disproportionation redox reaction known as the Cannizzaro reaction.

Two molecules of the aldehyde react: one gets oxidized to the corresponding carboxylate ion (m-chlorobenzoate ion), and the other gets reduced to the corresponding alcohol (m-chlorobenzyl alcohol).

Step 1: Reaction

The reaction proceeds as:

Cannizzaro reaction of m-chlorobenzaldehyde diagram for Q64 - JEE Main 2024 Evening
Cannizzaro reaction of m-chlorobenzaldehyde diagram for Q64 - JEE Main 2024 Evening

Pattern Recognition

No α-hydrogen + Conc. Alkali (50% KOH/NaOH) = Cannizzaro (Oxidation to salt of carboxylic acid + Reduction to primary alcohol).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Q jee_main_2024_30_jan_morning Preparation of Aldehydes
This reduction reaction is known as:
Preparation of Aldehydes diagram for Q62 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
The image shows the catalytic hydrogenation of benzoyl chloride to benzaldehyde in the presence of Pd-BaSO4.
  • A. Rosenmund reduction
  • B. Wolff-Kishner reduction
  • C. Stephen reduction
  • D. Etard reduction

Solution

Related Formula
R-COCl + H₂ Pd/BaSO₄ R-CHO + HCl
Core Logic

The reaction depicts the partial reduction of an acid chloride (benzoyl chloride) to an aldehyde (benzaldehyde) using hydrogen gas in the presence of a poisoned palladium catalyst (Pd supported on BaSO₄).

Preparation of Aldehydes solution diagram for Q62 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
The image shows the catalytic hydrogenation of benzoyl chloride to benzaldehyde in the presence of Pd-BaSO4.
This specific reaction is known as the Rosenmund reduction.

Pattern Recognition

Acid Chloride + H₂, Pd/BaSO₄ arrow Aldehyde is strictly the Rosenmund reduction. The BaSO₄ poisons the catalyst to prevent over-reduction to an alcohol.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

More Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Questions — jee_main_2025_24_jan_morning

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