General Chemistry for the Health Care Professions

General Chemistry
for the
Health Care Professions

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3-14. KETONES

Ketones result from the oxidation of a secondary alcohol and have the general structural formula 803fig0327.jpg (2202 bytes) where R and R' can be the same or different hydrocarbon groups.

Ketones are similar to aldehydes in their boiling points, which are lower than those of corresponding alcohols and carboxylic acids.
Ketones are neutral compounds, being neither acids nor bases. They undergo the process of reduction, by which they are converted to secondary alcohols.
The ketone functional group appears in the structure of many complex drugs, such as steroid compounds and vitamins. Simple ketones, with the exception of acetone, are seldom used. Acetone is used as a solvent and cleaning fluid.

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Original content of this course is supplied by Academy of Health Sciences
Fort Sam Houston, Tx.