Chapter 17, Problem 17.3P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Chloral, ${\text{Cl}}_{\text{3}}\text{CCH=O}$, forms a very stable hydrate called chloral hydrate. When dissolved in water, essentially $\text{100\%}$ of chloral is hydrated. It is to be explained how in contrast, the extent of hydration for ethanol (acetaldehyde) is much smaller.

Concept introduction:

Aldehydes are more reactive than ketones, too, because ketones are stabilized more by inductive effects. Alkyl groups are electron donating, so they decrease the concentration of positive charge at the carbonyl carbon. With less concentration of positive charge at that carbon, the carbonyl group is less susceptible to attack by a nucleophile bearing excess negative charge.