Describe how you would differentiate a sample of butanal and butan-2-one.
You would add tollen's reagent to both samples. The butanal would form a silver mirror, whereas, butan-2-one would remain unchanged. This is due to the fact that an aldehyde can be oxidised to a carboxylic acid and an reduce the oxidising reagent to solid silver (mirror) and ammonia. However, ketones cannot be oxidised so the reagent cannot be reduced.
Related Chemistry A Level answers
All answers ▸Describe a 2 step synthesis to form pentan-1-ol from pentane.
State and explain the effect of the following on the rate of a reaction: a) increasing temp b) increasing pressure c) increasing concentration of ONE reactant d) adding a catalyst. In each case state what will happen to the rate constant, k.
Explain the unusually high boiling point of HF
Alcohols can be converted into alkenes in an elimination reaction. The elimination of H2O from pentan-2-ol forms a mixture of organic products. Give the names and structures of all the organic products in the mixture.