Reaction Summary
Reagents
- Tollens’ reagent (or Fehling’s solution)
- then dilute acid, e.g.
Conditions
- Warm, then acidify
Catalyst
- None
Chemical Equation
Equation
By-Products
Observations
Observations
- Silver mirror (Tollens) / brick-red ppt (Fehling’s)
⚠️ 9701 Exam Notes / Pitfalls
Warning
- A mild, selective oxidant is needed: acidified dichromate under reflux would also oxidise a primary/secondary OH.
- Tollens/Fehling’s are alkaline, so the carboxylate forms first — acidify to get the acid.
- If the OH is tertiary, acidified
under reflux is also acceptable.