How can you test for aldehydes and ketones?

Aldehydes can be differentiated from ketones as they give a positive result for the following tests -Tollens' reagent turns from a colourless solution to a silver precipitate.Fehling's solution turns from a blue solution to a red/orange precipitate.If the compound present is a ketone, there will be no further reaction. The reason these tests give the above results for aldehydes is because the reagents are weak oxidising agents, so the aldehydes are oxidised to carboxylic acids and the reagents are reduced, resulting in the observable changes. Ketones cannot be further oxidised, so this is why there is no reaction.

GN
Answered by Gabriella N. Chemistry tutor

3683 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is nucleophilic substitution and how can I draw a mechanism to show this reaction taking place?


Define ferromagnetism, paramagnetism and diamagnetism, and determine whether the following complexes a) AgCl b) [Fe(CN)6]4- c) [Mn(CN)6]4- d) Co(H2O)6Cl2 are ferromagnetic, diamagnetic or paramagnetic giving a full justification for your reasoning.


How do I calculate rate coefficient units?


What is the trend in the first ionisation energy of the peroid 3 elements from sodium to argon.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning