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Chapter 12 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Class 12th Chemistry Chapter Assertion and Reason


Here is a set of 50 assertion-reason questions for CBSE Class 12 Chemistry, based on Chapter 12, "Aldehydes, Ketones, and Carboxylic Acids" from the NCERT Class 12 Chemistry book.

Options for Assertion-Reason Questions:

  1. (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
  2. (B) Assertion is true, reason is true, but reason is not the correct explanation for assertion.
  3. (C) Assertion is true, reason is false.
  4. (D) Assertion is false, reason is true.

1. Assertion: Aldehydes are more reactive than ketones towards nucleophilic addition reactions.

Reason: Aldehydes have one alkyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon, while ketones have two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon.
Answer: (C) Assertion is true, reason is false.
Explanation: The presence of two alkyl groups in ketones makes the electron donation effect greater, making ketones less electrophilic than aldehydes, hence less reactive towards nucleophilic addition.


2. Assertion: The carbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones is polar.

Reason: The oxygen atom in the carbonyl group is more electronegative than carbon.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The carbonyl group is polar due to the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen, resulting in a partial positive charge on carbon and a partial negative charge on oxygen.


3. Assertion: Aldehydes can be oxidized to carboxylic acids, but ketones cannot.

Reason: Ketones lack a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl group, which is required for oxidation.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The absence of a hydrogen atom in ketones prevents their oxidation to carboxylic acids, whereas aldehydes can be oxidized because they have a hydrogen attached to the carbonyl carbon.


4. Assertion: Carboxylic acids are generally more acidic than alcohols.

Reason: The conjugate base of carboxylic acid is stabilized by resonance, while the conjugate base of alcohols is not.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The conjugate base of carboxylic acid is stabilized by resonance, while the conjugate base of alcohol is not, making carboxylic acids stronger acids than alcohols.


5. Assertion: Ketones can undergo nucleophilic addition reactions.

Reason: Ketones have a carbonyl group which is electrophilic in nature and attracts nucleophiles.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The electrophilic carbonyl group in ketones attracts nucleophiles, allowing them to undergo nucleophilic addition reactions.


6. Assertion: Carboxylic acids show higher boiling points than aldehydes and ketones.

Reason: Carboxylic acids form hydrogen bonds between molecules, while aldehydes and ketones cannot.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The ability of carboxylic acids to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules leads to higher boiling points compared to aldehydes and ketones, which cannot form similar intermolecular forces.


7. Assertion: Formaldehyde (HCHO) is more reactive than acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) in nucleophilic addition reactions.

Reason: Formaldehyde has no alkyl group, while acetaldehyde has a methyl group that slightly stabilizes the carbonyl group.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The absence of an alkyl group in formaldehyde makes its carbonyl group more electrophilic and reactive towards nucleophiles than acetaldehyde, which has a methyl group that provides some stabilization.


8. Assertion: Carboxylic acids exhibit higher acidity than phenols.

Reason: The conjugate base of carboxylic acid is stabilized by resonance, while the conjugate base of phenols is not.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The resonance stabilization of the conjugate base of carboxylic acids makes them more acidic compared to phenols, where the conjugate base is less stabilized.


9. Assertion: Aldehydes undergo nucleophilic addition faster than ketones.

Reason: Aldehydes have only one alkyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon, making the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The single alkyl group in aldehydes does not provide much electron donation, making the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic and thus more reactive towards nucleophiles compared to ketones, which have two alkyl groups.


10. Assertion: Acidity of carboxylic acids increases with the presence of electronegative substituents in the aromatic ring.

Reason: Electronegative substituents stabilize the negative charge on the conjugate base through inductive or resonance effects.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Electronegative substituents such as halogens can withdraw electron density, stabilizing the negative charge on the conjugate base of carboxylic acid, which increases its acidity.


11. Assertion: Ketones undergo nucleophilic addition reactions more slowly than aldehydes.

Reason: Ketones have two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon, which donate electron density and make the carbonyl carbon less electrophilic.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The electron-donating effect of two alkyl groups in ketones makes the carbonyl carbon less electrophilic, thus slowing down nucleophilic addition reactions compared to aldehydes.


12. Assertion: The oxidation of aldehydes results in the formation of carboxylic acids.

Reason: Aldehydes have a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl group, which facilitates oxidation.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The hydrogen attached to the carbonyl carbon in aldehydes makes them more susceptible to oxidation, leading to the formation of carboxylic acids.


13. Assertion: Ketones are less reactive than aldehydes in nucleophilic addition reactions.

Reason: The presence of two alkyl groups in ketones provides more electron density to the carbonyl carbon, reducing its electrophilicity.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The electron-donating effect of the two alkyl groups in ketones reduces the electrophilic character of the carbonyl carbon, making ketones less reactive towards nucleophilic addition than aldehydes.


14. Assertion: The acidity of carboxylic acids increases when electron-withdrawing groups are attached to the aromatic ring.

Reason: Electron-withdrawing groups stabilize the conjugate base of carboxylic acid, making it more acidic.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Electron-withdrawing groups like nitro or halogen groups stabilize the negative charge on the conjugate base through inductive and resonance effects, increasing the acidity of carboxylic acids.


15. Assertion: Carboxylic acids have higher boiling points than aldehydes and ketones of similar molecular mass.

Reason: Carboxylic acids form hydrogen bonds, whereas aldehydes and ketones do not.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The hydrogen bonding between carboxylic acid molecules increases their boiling points compared to aldehydes and ketones, which lack such intermolecular forces.


16. Assertion: Aldehydes are more reactive towards nucleophilic addition than esters.

Reason: Esters have a negative inductive effect due to the alkoxy group, reducing the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The alkoxy group in esters has a negative inductive effect, reducing the electron deficiency of the carbonyl carbon and making it less reactive towards nucleophilic addition compared to aldehydes.

17. Assertion: The nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones proceeds via the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate.

Reason: The carbonyl carbon has a partial positive charge, making it susceptible to nucleophilic attack.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The partial positive charge on the carbonyl carbon makes it electrophilic and prone to nucleophilic attack, leading to the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate.


18. Assertion: Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to form esters in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Reason: The reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols is an esterification reaction.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols, known as esterification, forms an ester and is catalyzed by an acid.


19. Assertion: Acetic acid has a higher boiling point than ethanol.

Reason: Acetic acid molecules are capable of forming hydrogen bonds, while ethanol molecules can only form intermolecular hydrogen bonds.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Acetic acid molecules can form strong hydrogen bonds with each other, leading to a higher boiling point compared to ethanol, which also forms hydrogen bonds but not as strongly as acetic acid.


20. Assertion: The carbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones is more electrophilic than the carbonyl group in esters.

Reason: The alkyl groups in esters donate electron density through induction, reducing the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The alkyl groups in esters donate electron density to the carbonyl group, making it less electrophilic than the carbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones.


21. Assertion: The reduction of aldehydes and ketones produces primary and secondary alcohols, respectively.

Reason: Aldehydes have a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl group, while ketones have two alkyl groups.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The presence of a hydrogen atom in aldehydes allows their reduction to primary alcohols, whereas ketones, with two alkyl groups, are reduced to secondary alcohols.


22. Assertion: Aldehydes have a higher reactivity than ketones in nucleophilic addition reactions.

Reason: The presence of two alkyl groups in ketones increases the electron density on the carbonyl carbon, making it less electrophilic.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The two alkyl groups in ketones donate electron density, reducing the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon and making ketones less reactive towards nucleophilic addition than aldehydes.


23. Assertion: Carboxylic acids are stronger acids than phenols.

Reason: The conjugate base of carboxylic acid is stabilized by resonance, whereas the conjugate base of phenol is less stabilized.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The conjugate base of carboxylic acid is more stabilized by resonance than the conjugate base of phenol, making carboxylic acids stronger acids.


24. Assertion: The esterification reaction is reversible.

Reason: Esters can be hydrolyzed back to carboxylic acids and alcohols in the presence of an acid or base catalyst.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The esterification reaction, which forms esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols, is reversible and can be hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid or base catalyst to regenerate the carboxylic acid and alcohol.


25. Assertion: The boiling point of aldehydes and ketones is higher than that of hydrocarbons but lower than that of alcohols and carboxylic acids.

Reason: Aldehydes and ketones can form dipole-dipole interactions but cannot form hydrogen bonds like alcohols and carboxylic acids.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The ability of aldehydes and ketones to form dipole-dipole interactions increases their boiling point compared to hydrocarbons, but they do not form hydrogen bonds, which results in lower boiling points than alcohols and carboxylic acids.


26. Assertion: Aldehydes show higher reactivity in nucleophilic addition reactions than ketones.

Reason: Aldehydes have only one alkyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon, making the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The electrophilic carbonyl carbon in aldehydes, due to the presence of only one alkyl group, is more susceptible to nucleophilic attack, making aldehydes more reactive than ketones.


27. Assertion: The carbonyl group in aldehydes is more polarized than in ketones.

Reason: The hydrogen atom in aldehydes does not donate electron density to the carbonyl carbon, unlike alkyl groups in ketones.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The lack of electron-donating groups in aldehydes makes the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic and polarized compared to ketones, which have alkyl groups that donate electron density.


28. Assertion: Acidity of carboxylic acids increases in the presence of electron-withdrawing groups.

Reason: Electron-withdrawing groups stabilize the negative charge on the conjugate base of carboxylic acid.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Electron-withdrawing groups, such as halogens, stabilize the conjugate base of carboxylic acids through inductive and resonance effects, thereby increasing their acidity.


29. Assertion: Ketones are less reactive towards nucleophilic addition than aldehydes.

Reason: Ketones have two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon, which make the carbonyl carbon less electrophilic.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The two alkyl groups in ketones donate electron density to the carbonyl carbon, reducing its electrophilicity and making ketones less reactive than aldehydes in nucleophilic addition reactions.


30. Assertion: The reduction of ketones produces secondary alcohols.

Reason: Ketones have two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon, which are reduced to a secondary alcohol upon addition of hydrogen.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The reduction of ketones involves the addition of hydrogen to the carbonyl group, producing secondary alcohols because ketones have two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon.


31. Assertion: Carboxylic acids are less volatile than aldehydes and ketones.

Reason: Carboxylic acids form hydrogen bonds, while aldehydes and ketones cannot form such bonds.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The ability of carboxylic acids to form hydrogen bonds increases their boiling points and decreases their volatility compared to aldehydes and ketones, which cannot form such strong intermolecular forces.


32. Assertion: Carboxylic acids are stronger acids than alcohols.

Reason: Carboxylate ions are stabilized by resonance, whereas alkoxide ions are not.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The conjugate base of carboxylic acid is stabilized by resonance, whereas alcohols do not have such stabilization for their conjugate bases, making carboxylic acids stronger acids.


33. Assertion: Aldehydes are oxidized to carboxylic acids more easily than ketones.

Reason: Aldehydes have a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl group, which makes them more easily oxidized.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The hydrogen atom in aldehydes makes them more easily oxidized to carboxylic acids compared to ketones, which lack a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon.


34. Assertion: Ketones can be reduced to secondary alcohols using hydrogen.

Reason: The reduction of ketones involves the addition of hydrogen to the carbonyl group.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Ketones undergo reduction by adding hydrogen to the carbonyl group, leading to the formation of secondary alcohols.

35. Assertion: The reaction of aldehydes with NaHSO3 results in the formation of bisulfite addition products.

Reason: Aldehydes possess a nucleophilic carbonyl carbon, which easily reacts with the nucleophilic bisulfite ion.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Aldehydes undergo nucleophilic addition with bisulfite ions, resulting in the formation of a bisulfite addition product due to the electrophilic nature of the carbonyl carbon.


36. Assertion: Aldehydes are more reactive than ketones in nucleophilic addition reactions.

Reason: Aldehydes have only one alkyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon, making the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The electrophilic nature of aldehydes, due to the presence of only one alkyl group, makes the carbonyl carbon more prone to nucleophilic attack compared to ketones, which have two alkyl groups.


37. Assertion: Aldehydes can be reduced to primary alcohols by hydrogenation.

Reason: Aldehydes have a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl group, making them more easily reducible to alcohols.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The hydrogen atom in aldehydes makes them more easily reducible to primary alcohols upon the addition of hydrogen.


38. Assertion: The reduction of carboxylic acids gives alcohols.

Reason: Carboxylic acids can undergo reduction by hydrogenation, which adds hydrogen to the carbonyl group, forming alcohols.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Carboxylic acids can be reduced by hydrogenation, which adds hydrogen to the carbonyl group, converting the carboxyl group (-COOH) to a hydroxyl group (-OH), thus forming alcohols.


39. Assertion: Carboxylic acids undergo nucleophilic acyl substitution in reactions with alcohols.

Reason: The carbonyl carbon in carboxylic acids is electrophilic and reacts with nucleophilic alcohols to form esters.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The electrophilic carbonyl carbon in carboxylic acids is attacked by the nucleophilic alcohol group in a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction, resulting in the formation of esters.


40. Assertion: The addition of bromine to aldehydes results in the formation of a tri-bromo derivative.

Reason: Aldehydes undergo halogenation at the α-carbon in the presence of bromine, resulting in halogenated products.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Aldehydes undergo halogenation at the α-carbon in the presence of bromine, resulting in the formation of α,β,γ-tri-bromo aldehydes.


41. Assertion: Aldehydes and ketones react with Grignard reagents to form alcohols.

Reason: Grignard reagents act as nucleophiles, attacking the electrophilic carbonyl carbon of aldehydes and ketones.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Grignard reagents are strong nucleophiles that attack the electrophilic carbonyl carbon in aldehydes and ketones, leading to the formation of alcohols after hydrolysis.


42. Assertion: Aldehydes can be oxidized to carboxylic acids by strong oxidizing agents like potassium permanganate.

Reason: Aldehydes have a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl group, which is easily oxidized to a carboxyl group.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon in aldehydes makes them more susceptible to oxidation, converting them into carboxylic acids.


43. Assertion: Ketones do not undergo oxidation easily.

Reason: Ketones do not have a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl group, making them less susceptible to oxidation.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Unlike aldehydes, ketones lack a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon, which makes them resistant to oxidation.


44. Assertion: Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to form esters in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Reason: This reaction, known as esterification, involves nucleophilic attack by the alcohol on the carbonyl carbon of the carboxylic acid.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: In the esterification reaction, the alcohol acts as a nucleophile, attacking the electrophilic carbonyl carbon of the carboxylic acid, resulting in the formation of esters.


45. Assertion: Aldehydes can undergo reduction with sodium borohydride to form primary alcohols.

Reason: Sodium borohydride is a mild reducing agent that can reduce aldehydes without affecting other functional groups.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Sodium borohydride is a selective reducing agent that reduces aldehydes to primary alcohols, but it does not reduce other functional groups such as esters or carboxylic acids under mild conditions.


46. Assertion: The reaction of aldehydes with ammonia or its derivatives leads to the formation of imines.

Reason: The nitrogen atom in ammonia or its derivatives acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbonyl carbon in aldehydes to form imines.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Ammonia and its derivatives are nucleophilic and attack the electrophilic carbonyl carbon of aldehydes, leading to the formation of imines.


47. Assertion: The reduction of ketones with lithium aluminum hydride gives secondary alcohols.

Reason: Ketones contain two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon, which are reduced to a secondary alcohol during the reaction.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Lithium aluminum hydride reduces ketones to secondary alcohols by adding hydrogen to the carbonyl carbon, where both alkyl groups remain attached.


48. Assertion: Carboxylic acids exhibit higher boiling points than aldehydes and ketones.

Reason: Carboxylic acids form strong hydrogen bonds between molecules, resulting in high boiling points compared to aldehydes and ketones.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Carboxylic acids form strong hydrogen bonds, which significantly raise their boiling points compared to aldehydes and ketones, which do not form such strong intermolecular interactions.


49. Assertion: Ketones are more stable than aldehydes.

Reason: Ketones have two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon, providing greater electron density and stabilizing the carbonyl group.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: The two alkyl groups in ketones donate electron density to the carbonyl carbon, making it more stable compared to aldehydes, which have only one alkyl group.


50. Assertion: Carboxylic acids undergo decarboxylation when heated with soda lime.

Reason: Soda lime (a mixture of NaOH and CaO) induces the removal of the carboxyl group (-COOH) from carboxylic acids, forming an alkane.
Answer: (A) Assertion is true, reason is true, and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
Explanation: Heating carboxylic acids with soda lime causes decarboxylation, where the carboxyl group is removed, resulting in the formation of an alkane.