CbD - Carbonyl compounds Flashcards
How can aldehydes and ketones be made?
By oxidising alcohols.
Examples of carbonyl compounds
Aldehydes and ketones.
How do you make an aldehyde?
Gently heat a primary alcohol with an oxidising agent.
What oxidising agent is usually used when making an aldehyde?
Acidified potassium dichromate(VI).
What do aldehydes oxidise further to make?
Carboxylic acids.
What do you have to do make an aldehyde not oxidise further into carboxylic acids?
You’ve got to distil the aldehyde out of the reaction as soon as it’s formed to stop it oxidising further.
How do you make a ketone?
Reflux a secondary alcohol with an oxidising agent.
What can you use to test for aldehydes and ketones?
Fehling’s solution and Tollens reagent.
What can Fehling’s solution be used to test for?
Aldehydes and ketones.
What is Fehling’s solution?
A blue solution of complexed copper(II) ions dissolved in sodium hydroxide. Fehling’s A and Fehling’s B.
(Fehling’s A = Cu2+ weak oxidising agent. Fehling’s B = alkaline solution containing a bidentate ligand.)
What does Fehling’s solution do to aldehydes?
Oxidises them to carboxylic acids.
Result when Fehling’s solution is mixed with an aldehyde
Blue solution –> Brick red precipitate
Result when Fehling’s solution is mixed with a ketone
Nothing happens
Explain how you’d use Fehling’s solution to test for aldehydes and ketones
1) Add 2cm3 of Fehling’s solution to a test tube (or Benedict’s solution). It should be a clear blue solution.
2) Add 5 drops of the aldehyde or ketone to the test tube.
3) Put the test tube in a hot water bath to warm it for a few minutes.
Aldehyde - blue solution to brick red precipitate.
Ketone - nothing happens.
Explain what is happening when you add Fehling’s solution to an aldehyde
Blue copper(II) ions (Cu^2+) in the Fehling’s solution are reduced (the electrons come from the oxidation of the aldehyde) forming copper(I) ions (Cu+) which then form a brick red precipitate of copper(I) oxide (Cu2O).
How do you make Tollens reagent?
1) Put 2cm3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 (colourless) silver nitrate solution in a test tube.
2) Add a few drops of dilute sodium hydroxide solution. A light brown precipitate should form (silver oxide).
3) Add drops of dilute ammonia solution until the brown precipitate dissolves completely. This is now Tollens reagent.
What is Tollens reagent?
Dissolved silver(I) oxide (Ag2O) in ammonia solution to form the [Ag(NH3)2]+ (aq) complex ion.
What can Tollens reagent be used to test for?
Aldehydes and ketones.