Aldehydes

R-CHO

(1) Formaldehyde HCHO

Physical properties

State: Gas at room temperature.

Miscibility: Miscible with water forming a 40% solution

called formalin.

Color: Colorless.

Effect on Litmus paper: Neutral.

Chemical Reactions
(1) Schiff reagent test (Fuchsin aldehyde reagent):

Procedure: In a test tube take 1 ml formaldehyde and 1 ml

of freshly prepared Schiff reagent, shake, and observe the
color at once.

Observation: Magenta color (violet color).

(2)Tollen's reagent test (Ammonical silver nitrate)

Procedure: In a test tube take 1 mL of formaldehyde, 2 mL

of Tollen's reagent, shake well and then warm in water bath
for 5 minutes.

Observation: A grey precipitate or silver mirror.

HCHO + 2 Ag(NH3)2OH

w.b. 2Ag + HCOONH + H O + 3NH

4
2
3

5 min.

Silver mirror

(2) Fehling test:

Procedure: put 1 ml of Fehling (A) solution (CuSO4) and

1 ml of Fehling (B) solution (Rochelle salt, potassium
sodium tartarate), then add 1 ml of formaldehyde soln.,
put in water bath for 5 min.

Observation: A brick-red precipitate.

HCHO + 2CuO
Cupric oxide

w.b. HCOOH + Cu O
2

5 min.

Cuprous oxide
red ppt.

(4) Resorcinol test:

Proceduer: take few crystals of resorcinol and 1 ml

formaldehyde soln., then add few drops of conc. sulfuric
acid drop-wise on the walls of the test tube.

Observation: a red ring is formed at the junction of the two

liquids and white precipitate is formed which turns violetred in color after shaking.

(2) Acetaldehyde CH3CHO

Physical properties

State: Liquid

Miscibility: Miscible with water.

Color: Colorless.

Effect on litmus paper: Neutral.

Chemical Reactions
(1) Schiff reagent test (Fuchsin aldehyde reagent):

Procedure: as formaldehyde.

Observation: Magenta color.

(2)Tollen's reagent test (Ammonical silver nitrate)

Procedure: as formaldehyde

Observation: A grey precipitate or silver mirror.

CH3CHO + 2 Ag(NH3)2OH

w.b. 2Ag + CH COONH + H O + 3NH

3
4
2
3

5 min.

Silver mirror

(3) Fehling test:

Procedure: as formaldehyde

Observation: A brick-red precipitate.

CH3CHO + 2CuO
Cupric oxide

w.b.
5 min.

CH3COOH + Cu2O

Cuprous oxide
red ppt.

(4) Iodoform formation test:

Procedure: take 2 ml acetaldehyde, 3 ml 10% iodine

solution with shaking, then add dilute NaOH drop-wise
with shaking till a persistent straw-yellow ppt. is formed.

Observation: yellow precipitate of iodoform.

CH3CHO + 3I2

CI3CHO + 3HI

CI3CHO + NaOH

CI3H + HCOONa

iodal

iodoform

(5) Sodium nitroprusside test:

Procedure: In a test tube take 1 ml of acetaldehyde, few

drops of freshly prepared sodium nitroprusside soln., then
add dilute NaOH portion-wise with shaking.

Observation: Red color.

(3) Benzaldehyde

C6H5CHO

Physical properties:

State: Liquid

Miscibility: Immiscible with water.

Color: Colorless.

Effect on litmus paper: Neutral.

Chemical Reactions
(1) Schiff reagent test:

Procedure: as formaldehyde but needs strong

shaking because its immiscible.

Observation: Magenta color.

(2) Oxidation with potassium permanganate (KMnO 4):

Procedure: take 2 ml benzaldehyde, 3 ml of potassium

permanganate with shaking, and 2 drops of dilute NaOH.
Then heat the mixture on the direct flame for five minutes,
then filter and acidify with dilute HCl.

Observation: decolorization of violet color of KMnO4 White

ppt of benzoic acid .

CHO

COOH
KMnO4

(3) Sodium bisulfite test:

Procedure: take 1 ml benzaldehyde and one drop of

sodium bisulfite with shaking.

Observation: A white precipitate.

OH
CH SO3Na

CHO
NaHSO3

Finish