Chemistry Question on Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Question

A strong base can abstract an $\alpha$ -hydrogen from

Answer 1

Solution

Since the carbonyl carbon is electron deficient, so most susceptible to attack by nucleophilic reagents or base. A base increases the acidity of hydrogen atom attached to the $\alpha - C$ of the ketones or aldehydes. That- why $\alpha$ -hydrogen is easily abstracted from ketones by a base, e.g. in aldol condensation reaction, $\alpha$ -hydrogen atom of aldehyde or ketone is abstracted by a strong base.