The 2026-27 NCERT keeps Chapter 8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids as the second of three named organic-functional-group units in Class 12 Chemistry. The chapter covers nomenclature, structure of the carbonyl and carboxyl groups, preparation routes, and the mechanisms tested heavily in CBSE, JEE Main, and NEET papers. This page hosts the latest NCERT Book PDF and a complete reading map.
- CBSE Weightage: 6 to 8 marks (usually one 3-mark conversion or mechanism question plus one 5-mark distinguishing-tests case)
- JEE Main Weightage: 4 to 5% (2 to 3 questions per shift, mix of nucleophilic addition, aldol/Cannizzaro, and acidity order of carboxylic acids)
- NEET Weightage: 2 to 3 questions per year
The PDF above is the official NCERT print for Chapter 8 of the Class 12 Chemistry Part-II book. The reading map, mechanism index, and rationalisation notes further down help you decide which sections to study deeply and which to skim.
Sourced from the official NCERT 2026-27 edition and cross-verified against the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry syllabus document for the 2026 Board exam.
Also Check:
- Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers NCERT Book PDF
- Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 9 Amines NCERT Book PDF
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus 2026-27

Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids NCERT Intext Examples and Their Sub-Topics
The 2026-27 print of Chapter 8 carries 5 solved intext examples across 26 pages of theory. Each one isolates a single skill that recurs in CBSE conversion prompts, mechanism questions, and acidity ordering items.
| Example | Sub-topic | Skill tested |
|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | IUPAC nomenclature of substituted aldehydes and ketones | Number the chain so the carbonyl group gets the lowest locant |
| 8.2 | Predict products of preparation reactions of aldehydes | Apply Rosenmund reduction, Stephen reaction, and DIBAL-H reduction |
| 8.3 | Reactivity order in nucleophilic addition | Use steric and electronic effects on the carbonyl carbon |
| 8.4 | Aldol condensation product prediction | Identify alpha-H, draw enolate, write self- and cross-aldol products |
| 8.5 | Acidity comparison of substituted carboxylic acids | Apply inductive effect of -I and +I substituents on -COOH |
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry Explained
Source: Magnet Brains on YouTube
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids NCERT Book: Section-by-Section Breakdown with Page Numbers
The chapter has ten sections plus a summary and exercises. Sections 8.4 and 8.9 (chemical reactions) carry most CBSE marks.
| Section | Title | Pages | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | Nomenclature and Structure of Carbonyl Group | 228-231 | IUPAC names, orbital picture of >C=O |
| 8.2 | Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones | 231-235 | Rosenmund, Stephen, DIBAL-H, Etard, Gattermann-Koch |
| 8.3 | Physical Properties | 235-236 | Polarity, boiling point, solubility trends |
| 8.4 | Chemical Reactions | 236-244 | Nucleophilic addition, reduction, oxidation, aldol, Cannizzaro, haloform |
| 8.5 | Uses of Aldehydes and Ketones | 244 | Formaldehyde, acetone, benzaldehyde |
| 8.6 | Nomenclature and Structure of Carboxyl Group | 245-247 | IUPAC names, resonance of -COOH |
| 8.7 | Methods of Preparation of Carboxylic Acids | 247-249 | From alcohols, aldehydes, nitriles, Grignard reagent |
| 8.8 | Physical Properties | 249-250 | Hydrogen bonding, dimer formation |
| 8.9 | Chemical Reactions | 250-254 | Acidity, salt, ester, amide, reduction, HVZ reaction |
| 8.10 | Uses of Carboxylic Acids | 254 | Acetic, benzoic acid in pharma and food |
| - | Summary, Exercises (20 Qs) | 255-258 | Board-level practice problems |
The 20 exercises split into 6 IUPAC items, 5 conversions, 4 mechanism items, and 5 distinguishing-test and acidity questions. Conversions and aldol mechanisms repeat most in Boards.

How will Collegedunia's NCERT Book PDF Help You with Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids?
This page wraps the official NCERT print with navigation aids the raw PDF lacks.
- 2026-27 Alignment: Latest print, with every edition change flagged in the rationalisation table.
- Reaction Index: Tables map each reagent (HCN, Tollens, Fehling, LiAlH4, SOCl2) to its exact product.
- Reading Sequence: A skim-then-deep-dive plan for the whole chapter.
- Cross-Reference: Each reaction links to the matching Notes, Formula Sheet, and Solutions.
Class 12th Chemistry Aldehydes Ketones Carboxylic Acids Reading Sequence and Multi-Day Plan
The PDF rewards a four-day plan because of its many named reactions. One sitting leaks half the reagent-product pairings within a week.
| Day | What to read | What to practise | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Sections 8.1 to 8.3 (nomenclature, structure, preparation, physical properties of aldehydes and ketones) | Intext examples 8.1 to 8.3 plus exercises 8.1 to 8.3, 8.6 | 2.5 hours |
| Day 2 | Section 8.4 first half (nucleophilic addition, reduction, oxidation reactions) | Exercises 8.4, 8.5, 8.7 to 8.10, 8.13 | 3 hours |
| Day 3 | Section 8.4 second half (aldol, Cannizzaro, haloform, electrophilic substitution) and Section 8.5 (uses) | Intext example 8.4 plus exercises 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.20 | 3 hours |
| Day 4 | Sections 8.6 to 8.10 (carboxylic acids: nomenclature, preparation, physical properties, chemical reactions, uses) | Intext example 8.5 plus exercises 8.8, 8.12, 8.14 to 8.19 | 3 hours |
What Changed in Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids for 2026-27 NCERT (Rationalisation Note)
The 2026-27 syllabus renumbered this unit from legacy Chapter 12 to Chapter 8. The chemistry is almost fully retained.
| Sub-topic | Status in 2026-27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nomenclature, structure of carbonyl and carboxyl groups | Kept | Core section, unchanged |
| Preparation of aldehydes and ketones | Kept | All named routes retained |
| Nucleophilic addition and addition-elimination | Kept | All additions retained |
| Aldol and cross-aldol condensation | Kept | Mechanism retained verbatim |
| Cannizzaro and haloform reaction | Kept | Retained with worked examples |
| Acidity of carboxylic acids, substituent effect | Kept | Inductive effect retained |
| Reactions of -COOH (ester, amide, HVZ, etc.) | Kept | Full reaction set retained |
| Industrial process detail for formaldehyde, acetic acid | Trimmed | Flowcharts shortened; uses section now one page |
Students on a 2022 copy are reading close to 3 extra pages of trimmed detail that no longer appears in the Board paper.

Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Weightage in Class 12 Chemistry
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids sits in the upper mark band of Class 12 Chemistry, alongside Solutions and Coordination Compounds. The image above compares typical CBSE Board marks across all ten chapters, averaged over the last five papers.
Author, Edition and Publisher Information for the Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids NCERT PDF
The PDF on this page is from the official publication, not a third-party reprint. Always study from the latest print.
- Book: Chemistry Part-II, Class 12 (Textbook for Class XII)
- Chapter: 8 - Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids (legacy Chapter 12)
- Publisher: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
- Edition: 2026-27 reprint
- Pages: 32
- Languages: English, Hindi (Rasayan Vigyan Bhag-II)
Related Links:
- Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF (All Chapters)
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Sample Papers 2026
- CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Previous Year Question Papers
Student Feedback
In a Collegedunia poll of 900 Class 12 students, 78% said the named-reaction map on this page (Rosenmund, aldol, Cannizzaro, HVZ) was the fastest way to revise the chapter before Boards.
Other Resources for Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Solutions
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry Notes
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry Formula Sheet
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Exemplar Book PDF
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Exemplar Solutions
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry Handwritten Notes
NCERT Book PDF for Class 12 Chemistry: All Chapters
The table lists every chapter of the Class 12 Chemistry 2026-27 NCERT, each linking to its dedicated Collegedunia NCERT Book PDF page.
| Chapter | Resource |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Solutions NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 2 | Electrochemistry NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 3 | Chemical Kinetics NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 4 | The d- and f-Block Elements NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 5 | Coordination Compounds NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 6 | Haloalkanes and Haloarenes NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 7 | Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 9 | Amines NCERT Book PDF |
| Chapter 10 | Biomolecules NCERT Book PDF |
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF FAQs
Ques. Where can I download the Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids NCERT Book PDF?
Ans. You can download the Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry NCERT Book PDF directly from this page. Both the Normal and HD versions are available and both are free, with no registration required.
Ques. Is the Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids chapter aligned with the 2026-27 NCERT?
Ans. Yes. The PDF reflects the current 2026-27 syllabus for Class 12 Chemistry. The chapter retains all ten core sections on nomenclature, structure, preparation, physical and chemical properties, and uses of aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids; only the extended industrial-process flowcharts for formaldehyde and acetic acid have been shortened in the new edition.
Ques. How many pages is the Class 12th Chemistry Aldehydes Ketones Carboxylic Acids NCERT Book PDF?
Ans. The chapter runs roughly 32 pages including the 10 numbered sections, 5 intext examples, the summary, and the 20 end-of-chapter exercises.
Ques. How many marks does Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids carry in the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Board exam?
Ans. Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids typically carries 6 to 8 marks in the Class 12 Chemistry Board exam, sitting in the upper band along with Alcohols/Phenols/Ethers and Electrochemistry. The marks are usually split as one 3-mark conversion or mechanism question plus one 5-mark distinguishing-tests or aldol-condensation case study.
Ques. Why was the chapter renumbered from 12 to 8?
Ans. The 2026-27 NCERT reduced the Class 12 Chemistry book from 16 chapters (across Parts I and II) to 10 chapters. Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids moved from old Chapter 12 to current Chapter 8 in this consolidation. The chapter content itself is largely retained; only the numbering changed.
Ques. Which intext examples in Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids are most important for Boards?
Ans. Examples 8.3 (reactivity order in nucleophilic addition), 8.4 (aldol condensation product), and 8.5 (acidity comparison of substituted carboxylic acids) are the highest-yield. Practise each at least twice before the exam.
Ques. Has any topic been removed from Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids in the latest NCERT edition?
Ans. No major sub-topic was fully removed. The extended industrial-process detail for formaldehyde and acetic acid was trimmed in the 2026-27 print; all ten numbered sections and every named reaction (Rosenmund, Stephen, Etard, Gattermann-Koch, Cannizzaro, aldol, Clemmensen, Wolff-Kishner, HVZ, haloform) are intact.
Ques. How long should I take to complete the Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids NCERT chapter?
Ans. A four-day plan of about 11 to 12 hours total is realistic: one day for nomenclature, structure, and preparation of aldehydes and ketones; one for nucleophilic addition and oxidation; one for aldol, Cannizzaro and haloform; and one for the full carboxylic-acids block. The Collegedunia multi-day study plan further up on this page breaks the hours down section by section.







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