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Most Repeated MDCAT Chemistry: Aldehydes and Ketones MCQs

The most repeated Aldehydes and Ketones questions in MDCAT Chemistry, measured from 377 real past papers. Aldehydes and Ketones contributed 296 questions across those papers, and 12 distinct questions recurred with the same verified answer across 2 or more different exam years — listed below (ranked by how many years each recurs in), with the answer, an explanation, and the exact years.

Measured from 377 real past papers · updated July 2026

  1. 1
    Repeated in 3 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Ketones are prepared by the oxidation of:

    • APrimary alcohol
    • BSecondary alcohol
    • CTertiary alcohol
    • DAll of the above

    Explanation

    Ketones are prepared by the oxidation of secondary alcohols. When a secondary alcohol is oxidized, it loses hydrogen atoms and forms a ketone. Primary alcohols, on the other hand, are oxidized to form aldehydes, while tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized to form ketones or aldehydes. So, it's the secondary alcohols that are used to prepare ketones.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2012, 2015, 2020

  2. 2
    Repeated in 3 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Which one of the following is also called the silver mirror test?

    • AFehling’s solution test
    • BIodoform test
    • CTollen’s reagent
    • DBenedict’s solution test

    Explanation

    Tollens' reagent is a chemical reagent used to determine the presence of an aldehyde, aromatic aldehyde and alpha-hydroxy ketone functional groups. The reagent consists of a solution of silver nitrate and ammonia.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2015, 2022, 2024

  3. 3
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Cannizzaro's reaction is NOT given by:

    • AFormaldehyde
    • BAcetaldehyde
    • CBenzaldehyde
    • DTrimethyl acetaldehyde

    Explanation

    Cannizzaro's reaction is not given by aldehydes and ketones that have alpha hydrogen (hydrogen next to carbonyl carbon). In formaldehyde, there are no α Hydrogen so it will undergo this reaction. Acetaldehyde has 3 α Hydrogens next to C=O group so it cannot undergo this reaction. In trimethyl acetaldehyde, 3 CH3​ groups are attached to α Carbon and no α Hydrogen so it will undergo this reaction. In benzaldehyde, there is benzyl group on α carbon so it does not have α Hydrogen and it will undergo this reaction.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2017, 2018

  4. 4
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    The general formula for an aldehyde is:

    • AR-OH
    • BR-COOH
    • CR-CO-R
    • DR-X
    • ER-CHO

    Explanation

    Aldehydes and ketones have a carbonyl group (C=O) as a functional group. A ketone has two alkyl or aryl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon (RCOR’). The simplest ketone is acetone, which has two methyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon (CH3COCH3). An aldehyde is similar to a ketone, except that instead of two side groups connected to the carbonyl carbon, they have at least one hydrogen (RCOH or R-CHO). The simplest aldehyde is formaldehyde (HCOH), as it has two hydrogens connected to the carbonyl group. All other aldehydes have one hydrogen bonded to the carbonyl group, like the simple molecule acetaldehyde, which has one hydrogen and one methyl group (HCOCH3).

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2009, 2010

  5. 5
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Which of the following is formed when form aldehyde is treated with oxidizing mixture (H2SO4+K2Cr2O7)

    • AMethanol
    • BMethanoic acid
    • CAcetone
    • DAcet Aldehyde

    Explanation

    Aldehydes on oxidation give carboxylic acids. As methanoic acid is carboxylic acid, so, option B is correct.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024

  6. 6
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Dry distillation of which of the following can be done to produce acetone?

    • ACalcium acetate
    • BCalcium formate
    • CEthyl acetate
    • DAcetic Acid

    Explanation

    Acetone is prepared by dry distillation of calcium acetate.Hence, option A is correct.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024

  7. 7
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Which of the following is formed when acetone is oxidized?

    • AFormic acid
    • BEthanoic acid
    • CPropanoic Acid
    • DButyric Acid

    Explanation

    Ketones on oxidation give carboxylic acids with 1 carbon atom less than ketone. Since acetone contains 3 carbon atoms, it will form a carboxylic acid with 2 carbon atoms which is ethanoic acid or acetic acid.Hence, option B is correct.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024

  8. 8
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Oxidation of Toluene by KMnO4, the product is:

    • Ao-nitro toluene
    • Bp-nitro toluene
    • Cm-nitro toluene
    • DBenzoic acid

    Explanation

    When toluene is subjected to oxidation, only the methyl group undergoes oxidation while the benzene ring remains intact. The methyl group on oxidation given carboxyl group.So, the product will be benzoic acid.Hence, option D is correct.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024

  9. 9
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Which of the following produce maleic anhydride on oxidation?

    • AAcetylene
    • BPhenol
    • CToluene
    • DBenzene

    Explanation

    Beneze is oxidized in presence of vanadium peroxide (V2O5) producing maleic anhydride.STB Pg- 157Hence, option D is correct.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024

  10. 10
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Which of the following reactions is NOT shown in ketones?

    • ANucleophilic Addition Reactions
    • BReduction to Alcohols
    • CFormation of Hydrazones
    • DReaction with Fehling's Solution

    Explanation

    Fehling's solution is used to test for the presence of reducing sugars and aldehydes. Ketones do not typically react with Fehling's solution because they lack the necessary functional group (an aldehyde) to reduce the copper(II) ion in the solution to copper(I) oxide. This is why ketones do not show a positive test with Fehling's solution.Conclusion: The correct answer is Fehling's Solution, which ketones do not react with, while the other options represent reactions that ketones typically undergo.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024

  11. 11
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Which aldehyde is more reactive towards nucleophilic addition:

    • AFormaldehyde
    • BAcetaldehyde
    • CButyraldehyde
    • DPropionaldehyde

    Explanation

    Formaldehyde (HCHO) is the most reactive towards nucleophilic addition among the given options. This is because formaldehyde is the simplest aldehyde with a hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon. The presence of a highly reactive hydrogen atom makes formaldehyde more susceptible to nucleophilic attack compared to other aldehydes. Therefore, option a is correct.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2022, 2024

  12. 12
    Repeated in 2 yearsAldehydes and Ketones

    Catalytic reduction of aldehyde & Ketone forms:

    • AAlcohol
    • BCarboxylic acid
    • CAlkane
    • DAldehyde

    Explanation

    The correct answer is Alcohol. During catalytic reduction, hydrogen is added to the carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones, converting them into alcohols. Specifically, aldehydes yield primary alcohols, while ketones yield secondary alcohols. The other options are incorrect because: Carboxylic acids are produced from the oxidation of alcohols, not their reduction; Alkanes do not form from the reduction of carbonyl compounds; and Aldehydes are the reactants in this reduction process, not the products.

    Appeared in the past papers of: 2022, 2024

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