What are the respective reactive roles of the carbon and oxygen atoms in the highly polarized carbon — Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Due to the electronegativity difference between C and O, the mobile $\pi$ electrons are pulled towards oxygen. This leaves the carbon atom electron-deficient (electrophilic center, Lewis acid) and the oxygen atom electron-rich (nucleophilic center, Lewis base).