Question

Which of the following aldehydes or ketones are soluble in water?

a.

b.

c.

Short answer

The compounds that are soluble in water are a. and b.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1:  Part (a) Given Information

The given compound is:

Part (a) explanation

The given compound is an aldehyde.

• Aldehydes and ketones are soluble in water.
• The solubility depends upon the length of an alkyl chain.
• More the length of an alkyl chain, the lesser will be the solubility in water.
• Since propanal is an aldehyde having three carbon atoms chains. Thus, it is soluble in water as it has a shorter length of the alkyl chain.

Part (b) Given Information

The given compound is

Part (b) explanation

The given compound is a ketone.

• Aldehydes and ketones are soluble in water.
• The solubility depends upon the length of an alkyl chain.
• More the length of an alkyl chain, the lesser will be the solubility in water.
• Since propanone is a ketone having three carbon atoms chains. Thus, it is soluble in water as it has a shorter length of the alkyl chain.

Part (c) Given information

The given compound is

Part (c) Explanation

The given compound is a ketone.

• Aldehydes and ketones are soluble in water.
• The solubility depends upon the length of an alkyl chain.
• More the length of an alkyl chain, the lesser will be the solubility in water.
• Since hex-3-one is a ketone having six carbon atoms chains. Thus, it is not soluble in water due to the long length of an alkyl chain.