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
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
- Manipulation of hot glassware
- Temperature dependent results
- Use of toxic reagents
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
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