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
- The C=C is untouched by Tollens/Fehling’s — a mild oxidant is the safest answer.
- Acidified
under reflux is also accepted in many mark schemes (dichromate does not normally cleave C=C) — but never hot conc. , which would cleave the C=C. - Tollens/Fehling’s give the carboxylate — acidify to get the acid.