Bromination of Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid
Organic Synthesis with Familiar Materials
Oxidation of Primary. Secondary, Tertiary Alcohols
Underwater Fireworks: Chlorination of Acetylene
Differences in Miscibility of Organic Alcohol With Increasing Chain Length
Combustion of Cellulose Nitrate (Guncotton)
Different Smells of Carvone Isomers
Distinguishing Between HD and LD Polyethylene
Enviro-bond: Cleaning Oil Spills
Esterification Using a Dean-Stark Trap
IR Demonstration I – Atomic Coupling
IR Demonstration II – Molecular Vibrations
IR Demonstrations III – Molecular Vibrations
Making a Rubber Ball from Latex
Reaction Intermediates in Organic Chemistry
Reducing Sugars and Fehling’s Solution
Rod Climbing by a Polymer Solution
Superabsorbent Polyacrylate Gel
Aniline Hydrochloride-Formaldehyde Polymer
Relative Reactivity of Reducing Agents
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction/EAS Reaction
Reactivity of Alkanes vs Aromatic Compounds
Optical Activity of Racemic Mixtures With Limonene
Relationship of Absorbed Light to Observed Color
Density and Miscibility of Liquids
Extraction of Copper Ions from Solutions with Orform®
Gel Formation with Sodium Alginate and Calcium Chloride
Hydrolysis of T-Butyl Chloride: A Lecture and Lab Experiment
Formation of a Silver Mirror
Description: The Tollen’s test reaction is a test for the presence of aldehydes. A silver amine complex is formed using strong base and silver nitrate. This complex will react with a reducing sugar producing a silver coating on the inside of a flask.
Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry
Year: 1991 Vol: 4 Page: 240
Keywords: Tollen’s Test, Silver ammonia, Reduction, Aldehyde
Rating: 
Hazard: High
- Oxidizing liquids
- Severe skin burn hazard
- Acute toxicity hazard – oral, inhalation
- Electric shock hazard
- Scalding hazard
- Corrosive to metals
- Serious eye damage
- Short and long term aquatic toxicity hazard
- Oxidizing liquids
Effectiveness: Excellent
- Results are deeply engaging to audience
- Obvious contrast between behavior of systems
- Spectacular effects are seen by audience
- Time to results is medium
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Moderate reliability
Difficulty: High
- Some concerted or time-dependent manipulations
- Handling of organic chemicals
- Demo at non-standard conditions
- Some intermediate steps to results
- Sequential results dependent procedure
Safety Procedures:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Thermal gloves recommended
- Use of UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- Absorbent material on hand
- Downdraft hood recommended
- Use of chemically resistant surface required
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand
- Prevent release of reagents into the environment
- Avoid exposure to mists, gases, or vapors
Class: Organic Chemistry, Redox Chemistry, Transition Metal Chemistry
Division: General, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry
A version of the demonstration Formation of a Silver Mirror may be found under Transition Metals- Formation of a Silver Mirror.
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