The electron-half-equation for the reduction of

dichromate(VI) ions is:

Combining that with the half-equation for the

oxidation of an aldehyde under acidic conditions:

. . . gives the overall equation:

Note: You may wonder why I have gone to all the trouble of
working out a complete equation for this reaction (and the next
ones) rather than using symbols like [O] which are frequently
used in organic chemistry.

The problem is that what is important in using these reactions

as tests is the colour change in the oxidising agent. In this
particular reaction, you have to explain, for example, why the
solution turns green. Any equation that you write has got to
show the production of the chromium(III) ions.

If you aren't sure exactly how the two half-equations are

combined to give the final equation, follow the last link (further
up the page) to learn how to do it - and then come back and
have a go yourself to check that you can get the right answer.

Using Tollens' reagent (the silver mirror test)