there is only one oxygen atom per molecule, so the compound must be an alcohol,ether,aldehyde,or ketone. Also,because there are only 12 hydrogen atoms per molecule,raather than 2*6+2=14,we know that the molecule must contain either a (π) bond or a ring. we are told the compound is acyclic,and thus the molecule must contain a (π) bond and not a ring.Alcohols (except tertiary alcohols) and aldehydes are rather easily oxidized, so we suspect the molecule is neither an alcohol (though possibly a tertiary alcohol) nor an aldehyde. the ether linkage is stable in the presence of most oxidizing and reducing agents,and because the compound we need can be reduced,we suspect that that the compound is not an ether. at this point, we must decide whether the molecule is a ketone or a tertiary alcohol containing a carbon-carbon double bond.we can rule out a carbon-carbon double bond because the compound does not react with Br2,a reaction characteristic of alkenes. the compound we seek is a ketone.