Question

Aldehyde and ketones are distinguished by :

• A. Borsche's reagent
• B. ammonical $AgN{O}_3$
• C. Lucas' reagent
• D. all of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B ammonical $AgN{O}_3$

Tollens' reagent is silver ammonia complex. It oxidizes aldehyde to carboxylic acid. Silver ions are reduced to silver metal. This gives silver mirror. Such silver mirror is not obtained with ketones. Hence, Tollens' reagent is used to distinguish aldehydes and ketones.