Keto-enol equilibrium constants, KE, were determined for five aliphatic ketones (2-butanone, 3-methyl-2-butanone, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone, 3-pentanone, and 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone) and three alicyclic ketones (cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, and cycloheptanone) in aqueous solution at 25 °C by combining acid-catalyzed enolization and ketonization rate constants according to the relationship KE = kE/kK. Enolization rate constants were measured by halogen scavenging and ketonization rate constants were measured by monitoring the decay of enols generated flash photolytically through photooxidation of the corresponding alcohols. The effects of structure on KE, kE, and kK are discussed. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.