Tollens’ reagent

Definition

Tollens’ reagent is a chemical solution used to detect the presence of aldehyde functional groups in organic compounds, indicating their ability to be oxidized. It consists of silver nitrate in ammonia, which reacts with aldehydes to form a silver mirror on the reaction container.

Related terms

Aldehydes: Organic compounds characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom.

Oxidation: A chemical reaction involving the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion.

Silver mirror test: A qualitative test in which Tollens’ reagent is used to determine whether an aldehyde group is present in a compound, resulting in the deposition of metallic silver