Well actually you can....
Aldehyde contains a H-C=O... the presence of th H aton allows aldehyde to oxidise easily .
However ketone does not have that H atom directly bonded to the C=O (instead it have 2 alkyl group)...
Aldehyde can be oxidised to either a carboxyloc acid under acidic conditions or the salt of a carboxylic acid under alkaline conditions....
Aldehyde and ketone xan be distinguish using Tollens reagent or Felhling solution.....
Tollens reagent...
The aldehyde produces a silvery precipitate (silver mirror).. no chabge is observed with ketone...
Fehlings solution.
Aldehyde: color change from blue to dark red. (Copper (1)oxide)
Ketone..no change...
Note that aldehydes and ketones are carbonyl compound and to detect the presence of carbonyl compound as a whole u use 2,4-dinitrohydrazene.. 2,4-DNPH...
This however cannot tell if the carbonyl is an aldehyde or a ketone!...
Hope it helps
