Uses of Aldehydes and Ketones

In the chemical industry, ketones and aldehydes find use as reagents, solvents and starting materials to produce other items. Formaldehyde is used to preserve biological specimens and also to manufacture polymers such as Bakelite. 

Ketones have a low toxicity and can dissolve numerous chemical substances. Their boiling temperatures are easy-to-reach, making distillation a breeze.

Many ketones and aldehydes are used as flavourings and additives in foods, medications, and other products. 

Carvone is the major component in spearmint chewing gum. Benzaldehyde is the key ingredient in almond extract.

Uses of Aldehydes 

• Aldehydes and ketones have various applications across a range of industries, including food, pharma, fragrance and cosmetics, due to their chemical properties. Some of their chief uses are listed below.

• Formaldehyde is one of the most common aldehydes to be used in laboratories and manufacturing units. 

• Formalin is a common product manufactured from formaldehyde. Formalin is used to preserve specimens in labs. 

• Bakelite – a combination of phenol and formaldehyde – is also widely used in manufacturing plastics and coatings.

• Aldehydes are common starting materials used to manufacture different types of glues and polymeric goods.

• Cinnamaldehyde is a flavouring ingredient used to impart a cinnamon flavour to dishes. Vanillin is the major flavour agent in vanilla beans.

• Formaldehyde is found in the fields of photography and drug testing.

• Since aldehydes are pleasant smelling, they are extensively used to manufacture perfumes, cosmetics and dyes.

• Acetaldehyde is a chemical that is used to create acetic acid and derivatives like pyridine.

• Benzaldehyde is an artificial flavouring agent used to impart a characteristic almond flavour to several foods. It is also used in the production of perfumes, cosmetics and even bee repellents. 

• Aldehydes are important in the caramelisation of sugars. When the sugar is progressively cooked, the amino acids convert the aldehyde group into an unsaturated aldehyde.

Uses of Ketones 

• The retina (an aldehyde) and opsin (a protein) come together to make rhodopsin, a vision-related protein.

• Acetone is the most widely used and the most basic and readily available of all ketones. It is most commonly used as nail paint remover and paint thinner.

• Ketones can also be used to dissolve various synthetic fibres or plastics such as nylon.

• Various cosmetics, acne treatments and even chemical peels contain ketones as one of their key ingredients. 

• Various ketones are also used for medicinal purposes. For example, methadone is a ketone used to cure opiate addiction. The methadone binds to the dopamine receptors in the brain when ingested, and does not allow opiates to release dopamine, reducing the users’ dependence.

• Ketones are also found in living beings and used for the formation of various hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, aldosterone etc.

• Butanone, also a ketone, is one of the most common solvents used to produce textiles, varnish, plastics, paraffin wax and paint thinners.

• Acetophenone, an aromatic ketone, is responsible for the scents of jasmine, honeysuckle, cherry and strawberry.

• Cyclohexanone, a cyclic ketone, is a key component in the manufacture of nylon.

Conclusion

In industry, only a few ketones and aldehydes are produced on a big scale. They can be made in a variety of ways and are almost ideal chemical intermediates due to their simplicity of manufacture, relative stability and strong reactivity. Owing to their chemical properties, ketones and aldehydes are widely used across the manufacturing sector in industries spanning from food to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to perfumes.