Carbonyl Compounds Flashcards
Common oxidising agent
Acidified potassium dichromate (VI)
Why are ketones difficult to oxidise?
A C-C bond must be broken.
How do you carry out Fehling’s test?
Warm a solution with Fehling’s solution.
Aldehyde will be oxidised, solution will reduce.
Ketones don’t work here.
What is the result of a positive Fehling’s test?
A brick red ppt forms as copper (I) oxide is produced.
What’s the result of a negative Fehling’s test?
Stays blue.
How do you carry out Tollens test?
Warm solution with Tollens reagent.
Metallic silver will form if positive. The aldehyde is oxidised and the silver is reduced.
Reduction of an aldehyde
Forms a primary alcohol in a nucleophilic addition reaction
Reduction of a ketone
Forms a secondary alcohol in a nucleophilic addition reaction.
