Silver Mirror Experiment
Silver Mirror Experiment
Background: This experiment was first conducted by Bernhard Tollens, it is used to determine whether a carbonyl containing compound is an aldehyde or a ketone. An aldehyde is a compound containing a formyl group (CHO).The experiment involves diamminesilver complex and a chemical reagent (also known as “Tollens’ reagent”) which in this case is glucose. In a successful experiment a reflective silver metal should precipitate, with characteristics identical to that of a mirror’, this indicates that there was a presence of aldehydes in the reaction. If no reflective silver surface is seen than that indicates the presence of ketones.
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to make a reflective surface, similar to that of a mirror, by means of mixing Silver Nitrate with Sodium Hydroxide and by adding couple drops of ammonia and glucose to that solution. This could potentially form a thin film of metallic silver that coats the interior of a test tube used.
Hypothesis: The silver metal will form on the bottom of the test tube once the aldehyde containing carbohydrate (glucose) reacts with the silver compound. The glucose will be oxidized into an acid while the silver compound will be reduced into metallic silver as the reaction progresses.
Data: N/A
Analysis: The experiment was a success in the first attempt; the silver nitrate was oxidized into its metallic counterpart. This was indicated by the thin reflective surface that was present in the test tube after the final step heating and swirling the solution. The bottom of the test tube was not all reflective however, there was another color present as well, a brown with a rusty blackish hue that surrounded the reflective silver. This was due to the high temperature of the Bunsen burner that burned the test tube.
A second attempt was made afterwards since the silver metal was not attained by the other people participating. This time however the volume of all chemicals used were doubled, in
Background: This experiment was first conducted by Bernhard Tollens, it is used to determine whether a carbonyl containing compound is an aldehyde or a ketone. An aldehyde is a compound containing a formyl group (CHO).The experiment involves diamminesilver complex and a chemical reagent (also known as “Tollens’ reagent”) which in this case is glucose. In a successful experiment a reflective silver metal should precipitate, with characteristics identical to that of a mirror’, this indicates that there was a presence of aldehydes in the reaction. If no reflective silver surface is seen than that indicates the presence of ketones.
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to make a reflective surface, similar to that of a mirror, by means of mixing Silver Nitrate with Sodium Hydroxide and by adding couple drops of ammonia and glucose to that solution. This could potentially form a thin film of metallic silver that coats the interior of a test tube used.
Hypothesis: The silver metal will form on the bottom of the test tube once the aldehyde containing carbohydrate (glucose) reacts with the silver compound. The glucose will be oxidized into an acid while the silver compound will be reduced into metallic silver as the reaction progresses.
Data: N/A
Analysis: The experiment was a success in the first attempt; the silver nitrate was oxidized into its metallic counterpart. This was indicated by the thin reflective surface that was present in the test tube after the final step heating and swirling the solution. The bottom of the test tube was not all reflective however, there was another color present as well, a brown with a rusty blackish hue that surrounded the reflective silver. This was due to the high temperature of the Bunsen burner that burned the test tube.
A second attempt was made afterwards since the silver metal was not attained by the other people participating. This time however the volume of all chemicals used were doubled, in