Which of the following best describes the function of a carbonyl group in organic chemistry?

• A. It forms strong hydrogen bonds with nonpolar molecules.
• B. It increases the reactivity of a molecule by making the carbon atom electrophilic.
• C. It acts as a base and accepts protons from acids.
• D. It reduces the solubility of organic compounds in water.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what a carbonyl group is: it consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, written as C=O.
2. Recognize that the oxygen atom is more electronegative than carbon, which creates a polar bond with a partial negative charge on oxygen and a partial positive charge on carbon.
3. Because of this polarity, the carbon atom in the carbonyl group becomes electrophilic, meaning it is susceptible to attack by nucleophiles (electron-rich species).
4. This electrophilic nature increases the reactivity of molecules containing carbonyl groups, making them important intermediates in many organic reactions.
5. Note that carbonyl groups do not typically form strong hydrogen bonds with nonpolar molecules, do not act as bases to accept protons, and generally increase solubility in water due to polarity rather than reduce it.