Which of these compounds is propanal?

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Multiple Choice

Which of these compounds is propanal?

Propanal is an aldehyde with three carbon atoms in the chain and the carbonyl group at the end, giving the structure CH3-CH2-CHO. Among the options, CH3CH2CHO fits this: it has three carbons and an aldehyde group at the terminal carbon, so it is propanal. The other structures fail because CH3CHO has only two carbons (ethanal), CH3CH2CH2CHO has four carbons (butanal), and CH3COCH3 is a ketone (acetone), not an aldehyde.

Propanal is an aldehyde with three carbon atoms in the chain and the carbonyl group at the end, giving the structure CH3-CH2-CHO. Among the options, CH3CH2CHO fits this: it has three carbons and an aldehyde group at the terminal carbon, so it is propanal. The other structures fail because CH3CHO has only two carbons (ethanal), CH3CH2CH2CHO has four carbons (butanal), and CH3COCH3 is a ketone (acetone), not an aldehyde.

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