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+1 vote
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in Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids by (35 points)
edited by

Formic acid reduces tollen's reagent but acetic acid does not. Why?

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1 Answer

+1 vote
by (5.0k points)

Beacuse Formic acid (HCOOH) is not a true acid, it contains both aldehyde (-CHO) as well as carboxyl group (-COOH), and it behaves as a reducing agent. 

Therefore, Formic acid reduces Tollen's reagent to metallic Silver. While in case of acetic acid there is no aldehydic group to reduce tollen's reagent.

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