Which functional group is typically formed when alcohol reacts with a ketone?

When an alcohol reacts with a ketone, the reaction typically leads to the formation of a ketal. This occurs through a reaction called ketal formation, where the alcohol adds to the carbonyl group of the ketone. During this process, one molecule of water is eliminated, resulting in the formation of a ketal, which consists of two ether-type linkages connected to the carbon atom that was originally part of the ketone's carbonyl group.

In contrast, if an alcohol were to react with an aldehyde instead, it would yield an acetal. Therefore, the context of the functional groups involved is crucial in determining the product.

Ketals and acetals are similar in that they are both formed from alcohols and carbonyl-containing compounds, but they differ based on whether the starting compound is a ketone or an aldehyde. In this case, since the question specifies a ketone, the correct result of the reaction with an alcohol is the formation of a ketal.