When liquid ‘A is treated with a freshly prepared ammoniacal silver nitrate solution

[prasanna]

When liquid ‘A is treated with a freshly prepared ammoniacal silver nitrate solution, it gives bright silver mirror. The liquid forms a white crystalline solid on treatment with sodium hydrogen sulphite. Liquid ‘B’ also forms a white crystalline solid with sodium hydrogen sulphite but it does not give test with ammoniacal silver nitrate. Which of the two liquids is aldehyde? Write the chemical equations of these reactions also.

[prasanna]

Since, the liquid A reduces ammoniacal silver nitrate (Tollens reagent), hence A is aldehyde and B does not give test with ammoniacal silver nitrate, thus, B is a ketone. Further, B forms a white crystalline solid on treatment with sodium hydrogen sulphite. This suggests that B is a methyl ketone.