Describe chemical test/s you could use to determine the identity of a carbonyl compound.

Use Brady's Reagent (2,4-DNPH) to test for the presence of the C=O bond in a carbonyl compound. The formation of a yellow precipitate indicates a positive test result. Then determine the melting point of the product to identify the original carbonyl.

Alternatively you can use Tollen's reagent to determine whether a carbonyl is a ketone or an aldehyde. As Tollen's is a (weak) oxidising agent, there will be no reaction upon addition to a ketone, but a silver precipitate will form with an aldehyde. 

MB

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain why the second ionisation energy of boron is higher than the first ionisation energy of boron.


Part 2: from the empirical formula, calculate the molecular formula if the molecular weight of the substance is 180 g/mol


Predict the relative boiling points of propanal, butane and prop-2-en-1-ol from the highest to the lowest boiling point


Why does iodine have a higher boiling point than chlorine?