EXPERIMENT 5

ALDEHYDE AND KETONE

Objective:
To identify carbonyl compounds as aldehyde and ketone using qualitative analysis

Apparatus: stopper, test tubes, water bath, thermometer

Chemical reagents: iodine solution or potassium iodide, Tollens’ reagent, Schiff

reagent, Fehling’s solution, NaOH 10% solution, Dioxane or its
equivalent, 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine, ethanal, benzaldehyde,
propanone, an unknown carbonyl compound (X compound),
ammonia 5% solution.

Method
A. Fehlings’ Test
1. Place 2 ml Fehlings’ solution in each test tube. Add 1-2 drops of the
compound to be tested.
2. Gently shake the tubes.
3. Heat the mixture in boiling water for 15-20 minutes and determine whether
any precipitate has been formed.

B. Tollens’ Test
1. Add 1 ml Tollens’ reagent to each test tube contains the compound to be
tested and shake gently.
2. Allow the mixtures to stand for 3 minutes and then note the formation of any
silver formation.
3. If there is no change, warm the mixture in a water bath at 65°C-75°C for 3
minutes.
4. Record your observation.

C. Schiff’s Test

1
 1. Place one drop of ethanal, benzaldehyde, propanone and an unknown
carbonyl compound into 4 different test tubes respectively.
2. Add 1 ml of Schiff’s reagent into each of test tube.
3. Shake them slowly and note whether there is any change in color.
4. If the compounds do not dissolve, stopper the test tube and shake it
vigorously until an emulsion is formed.
5. Record your observation.

D. Iodoform Test
1. Place 5 drops of ethanal, benzaldehyde, propanone and an unknown
compound into 4 different test tubes respectively.
2. Add 5 ml dioxane in each tube and shake to dissolve the compounds.
3. Add 1 ml 10% NaOH solution.
4. While shaking, add iodine or potassium iodide solution one drop at a time
until the iodine color is retained.
5. Warm the test tube in a water bath at 65°C-75°C for a minute. If the iodine
color disappears, add more iodine or potassium iodide solution. Note the
formation of precipitate. Record the observation. Suggest the functional group
of the unknown carbonyl.

Results
Test Ethanal Benzaldehyde Propanone Compound X

A. Fehling’s Test
Addition of 2mL
Fehling reagent into
each compound.

Heat for 15-20min.

Determine any ppt

formed.

Test Ethanal Benzaldehyde Propanone Compound X

2
B. Tollen’s Test
Addition of Tollen’s
reagent into each
compound.

Note on the silver

formation.

Warm in the water

bath 65°C - 75°C.

C.Schiff’s Test
Addition of 2mL
Schiff reagent into
each compound.

Note on any change

in colour.

Observe after
shaking vigorously.

D.Iodoform Test
Addition of 2mL
dioxane reagent into
each compound.
Note the formation
of ppt.

Discussion
B. Some compounds tested give positive observation for iodoform test. Explain the
phenomenon.

B. Explain on the results observed and compare the results with theoretical knowledge.
Write the chemical reaction equation for oxidation test of A, B, C and D.

Conclusion
What did you achieve from this experiment?
What is the unknown organic solution?