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Why is aldehyde a reducing agent?

Answer 1

Because it can be easily oxidized.

The formal oxidation state of the ipso carbon in an aldehyde, #R-C(=O)H# is #+I#; it can undergo oxidation to the carboxyl group, #RC(=O)OH#, where the ipso carbon has an oxidation number of #+III#. Of course, to fully oxidize the ipso carbon, to #+IV#, we have to break the carbon chain to give #CO_2#.

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Answer 2

Jacob Anderson

Aldehydes are reducing agents because they contain a carbonyl group (C=O) with a hydrogen atom attached to the carbon. During a reduction reaction, the carbonyl group can accept electrons from another substance, while the hydrogen atom can donate electrons. This ability to both accept and donate electrons makes aldehydes effective reducing agents.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.