What compound results from the reduction of an aldehyde?

The correct answer is alcohol because the reduction of an aldehyde involves the addition of hydrogen or the removal of oxygen, resulting in the formation of a primary alcohol. During this process, the carbonyl group (C=O) present in the aldehyde is converted into a hydroxyl group (–OH). This transformation typically occurs in the presence of reducing agents such as lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) or sodium borohydride (NaBH4).

In organic chemistry, understanding the behavior of functional groups during reduction is essential, as it allows chemists to synthesize complex molecules from simpler ones. Aldehydes are characterized by having a hydrogen atom bonded to the carbonyl carbon, differentiating them from ketones, which have two carbon groups attached to the carbonyl carbon. When subjected to reduction, the aldehyde’s carbonyl carbon is converted into an alcohol, resulting in a compound that can participate in further chemical reactions typical of alcohols.

This process does not give rise to ketones, acids, or hydrocarbons, as those transformations involve further alterations or different types of reactions not directly related to the reduction of aldehydes specifically.