Aldehydes & Tollens Test

caribjewel

Hi

I did the Tollen's test on benzaldehyde in the lab recently. I'm trying to understand why the cabonyl group reacts so readily with the Tollen's reagent [ammonical silver oxide solution], even though it is a mild oxidising agent. Is there something about the aldehyde structure that make that "H" on the carbonyl group vulnerable? How should I approach this to get it clearly?

CJ

GCT

Aldehyde has a reactive carbonyl carbon and this is the main selective feature of the molecule...the carbonyl carbon on the ketone as well as the functional carbons of acids, alcohols...etc...is less reactive; due to electron donating groups.