Consider the following specific list of molecules: Acetaldehyde, Benzaldehyde, Acetone, Formic acid, — Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Chemistry Question
Question
Consider the following specific list of molecules: Acetaldehyde, Benzaldehyde, Acetone, Formic acid, 1-Butyne, and $\alpha$ -hydroxyacetone. How many of these compounds will produce a silver mirror upon mild heating with ammoniacal silver nitrate?
Answer: 5
💡 Solution & Explanation
Acetaldehyde (aliphatic aldehyde), Benzaldehyde (aromatic aldehyde), Formic acid (contains $-CHO$ structural feature), 1-Butyne (terminal alkyne gives white ppt of silver acetylide, technically a positive Tollens' observation), and $\alpha$ -hydroxyacetone (oxidizes/tautomerizes easily) all give a positive Tollens' test. Acetone does not. Total = 5.
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