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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3co252

Formic acid is the compound shown. Which statement about its behaviour with Tollens' reagent is correct?

  1. AIt gives a silver mirror, because it contains an aldehydic CHO unit and is oxidised to carbonic acid ()
  2. BIt gives no silver mirror because all carboxylic acids resist oxidation
  3. CIt gives a silver mirror only after conversion to its ethyl ester
  4. DIt gives no silver mirror because it has no alpha-hydrogen

Answer: A

Methanoic (formic) acid, H-COOH, is the only carboxylic acid that has an H-C(=O) unit like an aldehyde, so it reduces Tollens' reagent to silver and is itself oxidised to carbonic acid (CO2 + H2O). Having no alpha-hydrogen is irrelevant to this test.
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