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Why does ammonium hydroxide react with Acetone and does NOT react with Acetaldehyde?

April 26, 2017Acetaldehyde Acetone Ammonium Chemistry hydroxide Mathematics react

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Why does ammonium hydroxide react with Acetone and does NOT react with Acetaldehyde?

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Both acetone & acetaldehyde test positive in the iodoform reaction. Acetaldehyde is the only aldehyde to test positive in this reaction which detects the presence of methyl ketones or alcohols possessing the feature CH3(CH)OH-R. I would suggest that the reason ammonium hydroxide reacts with acetone but not acetaldehyde is not down to the carbonyl [C = O] group which both possess but rather the ammonia component of ammonium hydroxide which splits to form ammonia & hydroxide. Disregard the hydroxide component in your thinking, I suggest!