General, Organic & Biological Chemistry Lab #8
3. Suppose that when a chemist tested three unknown solutions with both Benedict's and Tollens tests
the results were as shown in the table below.
Unknown I.D.
123B
Benedict's Test
Blue solution (NVR)
Tollens Test
No mirror
882B
Blue solution (NVR)
Silver mirror
505B
Red ppt.
Silver mirror
The three unknowns were the compounds shown in the box below.
O
||
C-H
HO-C-OH
H-C-OH
H-C-OH
O
||
H-C-H
Formaldehyde
H H
O
H-C-C-C-CH$_3$
CH$_2$OH
OH H
Ribose
4-hydroxybutan-2-one
Which unknown number corresponded to each of the unknowns above? Explain the reasoning behind
your answers. (Hint: you will probably want to review the background material about the Benedict's
and Tollens tests in this lab. It contains information that is very helpful in answering this questions.)
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