School of Engineering and Computing (SoEC)

Manipal International University, Malaysia

Experiment 3
CHEMISTRY 2 (FSC 3224)

- SRIRAM (1002223009)
- VENGGADANATHAN (1002223006)
Members - ARUN RAJ (1002223001)

Programme FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE

Date 25th JULY 2023

Lecturer’s Name MS. PREETI BALA

Title: Test for carbonyl compounds

Objective: to identify the reactivity of aldehydes and ketones with different substances

Introduction:
Carbonyl compounds are an important class of organic compounds containing a carbon-oxygen
double bond (C=O) functional group. Aldehydes and ketones are the two main types of carbonyl
compounds, aldehydes have a carbonyl group at the terminal carbon while ketones have carbon
inside. The discovery of carbonyl compounds is important in many fields such as organic
chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biochemistry. Aldehydes have at least one hydrogen atom
attached to the carbonyl group while ketones have two carbons attached to the carbonyl group.
Aldehydes are formed by the oxidation of primary alcohols, while ketones are formed by the
oxidation of secondary alcohols. The following tests are used to determine the presence of
aldehydes and ketones.
Materials:
 Aldehyde
 Propanone (ketone)
 2,4 DNP+ethanol
 K2Cr207 + dilute H2s04
 Fehling solution A+B (CuS04+NaOH)
 Tollen’s reagent A+B (Ammoniacal solution of Silver Nitrate)
Apparatus:
• Test tubes
Procedure:
 In a test tube 5 drops of aldehyde were poured.
 drops of 2,4 DNP +ethanol added in the aldehyde test tube.
 The solution was mixed for 15 seconds.
 The observation was recorded.
 Steps 1 to 5 were repeated in another test tube with ketone and 2,4 DNP +ethanol
 Steps 1 to 5 were repeated in another test tube with Fehling’s solution. A+B
(CuS04+NaOH) and aldehyde and the same solution were tested in another test tube
replacing aldehyde with a ketone
 Steps 1 to 5 were repeated in another test tube with diluted H2SO4., aldehyde and
K2Cr2O7 and the same solution were tested in another test tube replacing aldehyde with
a ketone
  Steps 1 to 5 were repeated in another test tube with Tollen’s reagent A+B with aldehyde
and the same solution was tested in another test tube replacing aldehyde with a ketone

 All the results are observed and recorded.

Results:

NO EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION CONFIRMATION

1 a) Aldehyde + a) Orange precipitate a) Immiscible
(2,4DNP+ ethanol) formed b) Immiscible

b) Ketone +
(2,4DNP+ ethanol) b) Orange precipitate
formed

2 a)Aldehyde + K2Cr2O7 + i. Reddish Brown 

dil H2SO4 precipitate formed

b)Ketone + K2Cr2O7 +
dil H2SO4 ii. No reaction
3 a) Aldehyde + a) Brick red precipitate
Fehling solution formed
A+B (CuSO4 + b) No changes
NaOH)

b) Ketone + Fehling
solution A+B
(CuSO4 + NaOH)

4. a) Aldehyde + Tollens a) Aldehyde is oxidised.

reagent A+B
a) Silver mirror formed b) Oxidation of ketone does not
(Ammonical solution of
b) No reaction occur.
Silver Nitrate)
 b) Ketone + Tollens
reagent A+B

Discussion:
The oxidation of alcohols can be achieved through the use of oxidizing agents such as chromic
acid (CrO3), potassium permanganate(KMnO4), or sodium dichromate (Na2Cr2O7). These
agents react with the alcohol to remove the hydroxyl group and form a carbonyl group, either an
aldehyde or a ketone.

For example, primary alcohols can be oxidized to form aldehydes, which can be further oxidized
to form carboxylic acids. The oxidation of a primary alcohol to an aldehyde requires a gentle
oxidizing agent, such as pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC). This reaction is very useful in
synthetic organic chemistry, such as the preparation of aldehydes for use in the synthesis of
pharmaceuticals, plastics, and flavors.

On the other hand, secondary alcohols can be oxidized to form ketones, which are not further
oxidized under normal conditions. The oxidation of a secondary alcohol to a ketone requires a
stronger oxidizing agent, such as potassium permanganate or sodium dichromate. This reaction is
also used extensively in the synthesis of organic compounds, such as in the production of
fragrances, dyes, and pharmaceuticals.

Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized at all under normal conditions, because there is no hydrogen
atom attached directly to the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group. Therefore, tertiary alcohols are
generally inert towards oxidizing agents.

Conclusion:
The presence of hydrogen atoms attached to carbon-oxygen double bonds in aldehydes differs
from ketones, so potassium dichromate, Fehling's solution, and Tollen's reagent also give good
results, but ketones do not. This is because ketones do not contain hydrogen. Due to the presence
of hydrogen atoms, aldehydes are particularly rapidly oxidized and act as strong reducing agents.