Explain why:
Acetaldehyde undergoes aldol condensation, but formaldehyde does not.

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Solution

Aldehydes having at least one $α - H$ undergo Aldol condensation in the presence of a base to give $α -$ hydroxyaldehydes (aldol).
Since acetaldehyde $C H_{3} C H O$ has $α - H$ whereas formaldehyde $H C H O$ has no $α - H$ , therefore former can undergo aldol condensation while later does no.

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