CHENMISTRY

CHEN

MANYI

TOLLENS REAGENT
This is produced by dissolving silver nitrate in water and
adding aqueous ammonia.
AgO is formed as a ppt initially but this dissolves as more
ammonia is added forming a complex the duamminesilver,
[Ag(NH3)2]+
When this reagent is warmed gentlely with an aldehyde, it
is oxidised and the silver (I) ions in the complex are reduced
to form silver metal.
Half equation: 2Ag+(aq) + 2e- 2Ag(s)
Overall: 2Ag+(aq) + RCHO(aq) + H2O(l) 2Ag(s) +
RCOOH(aq) + 2H+(aq)

REDUTION REACTION OF ALDEHYDES

AND KETONES
Both aldehydes and ketones are prepared by the oxidation of
alcohols.
These reactions can be reversed by reduction so aldehydes are
readily reduced to primary alcohols and ketones to secondary
alcohols.
Suitable reagent: lithium tetrahydrdoaluminate (LiAlH4) dissolved
in dry ethier ethoxyethane or sodium tetrahydridoborate (NaBH4)