Question

Explain reducing property of aldehydes with schiff's reagent,

Tollen's reagent and Fehling's solution​

Answer 1

Answer:

The reduction of an aldehyde leads to a primary alcohol. A primary alcohol is one which only has one alkyl group attached to the carbon with the -OH group on it. Hope it helps.

Answer 2

Answer:

The presence of the hydrogen atom in the aldehyde group gives reducing properties to the aldehyde molecule. Aldehydes are easily oxidized by mild oxidizing agents such as Tollens’ reagent (Ag+ in aqueous ammonia), Fehling’s reagent (Cu2+ complexed with tartrate), or Benedict’s reagent (Cu2+ complexed with citrate). Ketones do not have such reducing properties and are not oxidized under similar conditions. Therefore, Tollens’ reagent, Fehling’s reagent, or Benedict’s reagent can be used to distinguish aldehydes from ketones.

However, fructose reduces such reagents even though it contains no aldehyde group. Reduction occurs because the reagents are basic solutions and fructose is readily isomerized to a mixture of aldoses (glucose and mannose) under basic conditions.