Carbonyls

Tests for Carbonyl Compounds

Brady’s reagent produces bright orange crystals with carbonyl compounds.

The melting point of these crystals have very sharp melting points which can be looked up in data books to identify the original compound.

There are three tests for aldehyde:

1. Tollen’s reagent gives a silver mirror

2. Benedict’s solution gives a red precipitate

3. Acidified dichromate turns from orange to green

These rests are specific to aldehydes and not ketones!

Carboxylic Acids & Esters

Carboxylic acids are weak acids but will liberate CO₂ from carbonates.

Carboxylic acids and alcohols react together, in the presence of a strong acid catalyst, to give esters.

Esters often have…