a formyl group. Aldehydes are a common motif in many chemicals important in technology and biology.

Structure and bonding

Aldehyde molecules have a central carbon atom that is connected by a double bond to oxygen, a single bond to hydrogen and another single bond to a third substituent, which is carbon or, in the case of formaldehyde, hydrogen. The central carbon is often described as being sp²-hybridized. The aldehyde group is somewhat polar.

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