Aldehydes
Which observation confirms that a sample contains an aldehyde when treated with Tollens' reagent?
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Solution
Formation of a silver mirror
Tollens' reagent, [Ag(NH3)2]+, is reduced by aldehydes to metallic silver while the aldehyde is oxidized to carboxylate ion. This deposits a shiny silver coating on the test tube wall. That characteristic silver mirror confirms an aldehyde.
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- organic compounds containing oxygen
- Topic
- aldehydes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Formation of a silver mirror
Tollens' reagent, [Ag(NH3)2]+, is reduced by aldehydes to metallic silver while the aldehyde is oxidized to carboxylate ion. This deposits a shiny silver coating on the test tube wall. That characteristic silver mirror confirms an aldehyde.
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter organic compounds containing oxygen, covering the topic of aldehydes. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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