Aldehyde is a class of organic chemical compounds. It also makes up a functional group, a group of atoms that gives rise to the characteristic properties of certain compounds. Aldehydes are used in industry to make many products. Formaldehyde and furfuraldehyde are two examples of aldehydes used in the manufacture of plastics. The flavor of artificial vanilla comes from the aldehyde vanillin. The general formula for aldehydes is RCHO, where R stands for a fragment of a molecule with an attachment to carbon, such as the fragment CH3. The letters CHO refer to a carbon (C) atom with two bonds to an oxygen (O) atom, also known as a carbonyl, and one to a hydrogen (H) atom. Chemists commonly prepare aldehydes from alcohols or such compounds as alkenes or esters. See also Formaldehyde ; Furfural .
