THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE BODY 



35 



But it is possible to obtain (if the carbon chain be long enough) 

 diatomic, triatomic, hexatomic alcohols. For example, from propane: 



CH 3 

 CH, 

 CH 3 



Propane 



2. If, instead of one atom of oxygen, two atoms are linked on to 

 methane, 



water splits off, leaving a body containing the group = CO which is 

 designated as the carbonyl group. 



Thus, from propane it is possible to obtain by oxidation : 



CH a 



CH 2 

 CH 3 



Propane 



C 



H 

 CHL, 

 CH 3 



Propaldehyde 



CH, 



CH 3 



Acetone 



Bodies containing the characteristic grouping CHO are known 

 as aldehydes; those with the grouping C=O are termed ketones. 

 Generally aldehydes and ketones are obtained by oxidation of 

 alcohols, primary alcohols yielding aldehydes, secondary alcohols 

 yielding ketones. 



Thus: 







CH 2 OH 



CILjOH 



