The main difference between an aldehyde and a ketone lies in their functional groups and their location within the molecule. Both aldehydes and ketones contain a carbonyl group C=O , but in an aldehyde, the carbonyl group is bonded to a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group or an aryl group , while in a ketone, the carbonyl group is bonded to two alkyl groups or aryl groups .Aldehyde general formula: R-CHOKetone general formula: R-CO-R'This difference in functional groups leads to variations in their physical and chemical properties.Physical properties:1. Boiling points: Both aldehydes and ketones have higher boiling points than alkanes and ethers of similar molecular weights due to the presence of the polar carbonyl group. However, aldehydes generally have slightly lower boiling points than ketones because they have a hydrogen atom bonded to the carbonyl group, which results in less steric hindrance and weaker dipole-dipole interactions compared to ketones.2. Solubility: Both aldehydes and ketones are polar compounds and can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, making them soluble in water. However, as the size of the alkyl or aryl groups increases, their solubility in water decreases due to the increased hydrophobic character of the molecule.Chemical properties:1. Reactivity: Aldehydes are generally more reactive than ketones due to the presence of the hydrogen atom bonded to the carbonyl group. This makes the carbonyl carbon in aldehydes more electrophilic and susceptible to nucleophilic attack. In ketones, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups, which can donate electron density to the carbonyl carbon, making it less electrophilic and less reactive towards nucleophiles.2. Oxidation: Aldehydes can be easily oxidized to carboxylic acids, while ketones are generally resistant to oxidation. This is because the hydrogen atom in aldehydes can be replaced by an oxygen atom during oxidation, whereas ketones lack this hydrogen atom.Examples:Aldehyde example: Ethanal acetaldehyde , CH3CHOKetone example: Propanone acetone , CH3COCH3In ethanal, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to a hydrogen atom and a methyl group, making it more susceptible to nucleophilic attack and oxidation. In propanone, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to two methyl groups, making it less reactive towards nucleophiles and resistant to oxidation.In summary, the main difference between aldehydes and ketones lies in their functional groups and the location of the carbonyl group within the molecule. This difference impacts their physical properties, such as boiling points and solubility, as well as their chemical reactivity, particularly in terms of nucleophilic attack and oxidation.