what is the general formula for R-CHO?

Answer 1

that IS a general formula. R is any hydrocarbon chain. -CHO is an aldehyde group.

Answer 2

Technically, this is a general formula for an aldehyde group, however, this general formula can be further specified. A better description of the general formula for this compund, an aldehyde, would be: C(n)-CHO. Where C(n) is the number of carbon atoms that are attached to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group.
If you are nor sure what an aldehyde is, it is simply a carbon atom that is attached to 3 other atoms. The carbon atom is double bonded to the oxygen atom, and the same carbon is also bound to a single hydrogen atom, and lastly, the carbon is bound to an 'R' group. The 'R' group can represent a single carbon atom, or it can represent an entire chain of carbon atoms. Put simply, an aldehyde is a carbonyl group bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. This is a bit difficult to draw here, but I'll give it a shot:
H-C=O
.....I
....R

OR:
...........O
............II
...H3C-C-H


OR:
...................O
....................II
H3CCH2CH2-C-H

The R stands for a single carbon molecule, or a chain of carbon molecules. The requirement for the aldehyde is that the carbon atom of the carbonyl group is attached to one hydrogen and one carbon, regardless of the length of the carbon chain attached as 'R'. Also, obviously, an aldehyde group must contain the carbonyl group, or the double bond between the oxygen atom and the carbon atom.

That was a pain in the *** making those molecules come out right....I wish they would cater this answer forum to allow the final answer to actually look like what we originally typed!!

Answer 3

R-CHO is already a general formula.

It's Aldehydes' general formula

Answer 4

general formula for R-CHO represents an aldehyde

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Answer 5

R-CHO. , where R= C(x )+ H(y)