Carbonyl Compound Tests (CIE A Level Chemistry)

• 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (also known as 2,4-DNPH) is a reagent which detects the presence of carbonyl compounds (compounds with -C=O group)
• The carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones undergoes a condensation reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine
  • A condensation reaction is a reaction in which two molecules join together and a small molecule (such as H₂O or HCl) is eliminated

• The product formed when 2,4-DNPH is added to a solution that contains an aldehyde or ketone is a deep-orange precipitate which can be purified by recrystallisation
• The melting point of the formed precipitate can then be measured and compared to literature values to find out which specific aldehyde or ketone had reacted with 2,4-DNPH

Ketones and aldehydes react with 2,4-DNPH in a condensation reaction

The test tube on the left shows a negative 2,4-DNPH test and the tube on the right shows a positive test

• The presence of an aldehyde group (-CHO) in an unknown compound can be determined by the oxidising agents Fehling’s and Tollens’ reagents

Fehling’s solution

• Fehling’s solution is an alkaline solution containing copper(II) ions which act as the oxidising agent
• When warmed with an aldehyde, the aldehyde is oxidised to a carboxylic acid and the Cu²⁺ ions are reduced to Cu⁺ ions 
  • In the alkaline conditions, the carboxylic acid formed will be neutralised to a carboxylate ion (the -COOH will lose a proton to become -COO^- )
  • The carboxylate ion (-COO^-) will form a salt with a positively charged metal ion such as sodium (-COO^-Na⁺)

• The clear blue solution turns opaque due to the formation of a red precipitate, copper(I) oxide
• Ketones cannot be oxidised and therefore give a negative test when warmed with Fehling’s solution

The copper(II) ions in Fehling’s solution are oxidising agents, oxidising the aldehyde to a carboxylic acid and getting reduced themselves to copper(I) ions in the Cu₂O precipitate

Tollens’ reagent

• Tollens' reagent is an aqueous alkaline solution of silver nitrate in excess ammonia solution
  • Tollens' reagent is also called ammoniacal silver nitrate solution

• When warmed with an aldehyde, the aldehyde is oxidised to a carboxylic acid and the Ag⁺ ions are reduced to Ag atoms
  • In the alkaline conditions, the carboxylic acid will become a carboxylate ion and form a salt

• The Ag atoms form a silver ‘mirror’ on the inside of the tube
• Ketones cannot be oxidised and therefore give a negative test when warmed with Tollens’ reagent

The Ag⁺ ions in Tollens’ reagent are oxidising agents, oxidising the aldehyde to a carboxylic acid and getting reduced themselves to silver atoms