In
chemistry, a
ketone (alkanone) is an
organic compound with the structure RC(=O)R', where R and R' can be a variety of carbon-containing
substituents. Ketones and
aldehydes are simple compounds that contain a
carbonyl group (a carbon-oxygen double bond). They are considered "simple" because they do not have reactive groups like -
OH or -
Cl attached directly to the carbon atom in the carbonyl group, as in
carboxylic acids containing -
COOH. Many ketones are known and many are of great importance in industry and in biology. Examples include many
sugars (
ketoses) and the industrial
solvent acetone.