Topic summary
Ketone
In organic chemistry, a ketone is an organic compound with the structure R−C(=O)−R', where R and R' can be a variety of carbon-containing substituents. Ketones contain a carbonyl group−C(=O)− (a carbon-oxygen double bond C=O). A ketone derived from an alkane is an alkanone. The simplest ketone is acetone (where R and R' are methyl), with the formula (CH3)2CO. Many ketones are of great importance in biology and industry. Examples include many sugars (ketoses), many steroids, e.g., testosterone, and the solventacetone.