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Water and Alcohols

The oxygen of water or an alcohol is nucleophilic enough to attack a carbonyl group. The reaction is especially relevant in the case of alcohols.

Water and alcohol addition▶ Watch the video on YouTube
Mechanisms of the acid- and base-catalyzed addition of water to a carbonyl group, giving the gem-diol (hydrate)

Water Addition

 Intramolecular formation of the fructose hemiketal: the OH on carbon 6 attacks the carbonyl group on carbon 2

Alcohol Addition