Class 12 NEET Chemistry Aldehydes, Ketones And Carboxylic Acids Part 1

Acetaldehyde reacts only with nucleophiles. since the mobile π -electrons of carbon oxygen double bond are strongly pulled towards oxygen, carbonyl carbon is electron deficient and carbonyl oxygen is electron rich. Thus, the electron deficient carbonyl carbon is most susceptible to attack by electron rich nucleophilic reagent, i.e., by base. The nucleophile, then attacks the protonated carbonyl group to form addition product.