Final answer:
To distinguish acetone from benzaldehyde, use the Iodoform test for acetone, which forms a yellow precipitate, and the Tollens' test for benzaldehyde, which produces a silver mirror.
Step-by-step explanation:
To distinguish between acetone and benzaldehyde, we can use chemical tests that exploit their functional group reactivity. A simple test is the 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNP) test, which is positive for both ketones and aldehydes, forming a yellow, orange, or red precipitate. However, we need a test that differentiates between the two.
For acetone, a ketone, the Iodoform test could be used. When acetone reacts with iodine in the presence of sodium hydroxide, it forms a yellow precipitate of iodoform (CHI3), which is characteristic of methyl ketones.
On the other hand, benzaldehyde, an aldehyde, will not give a positive iodoform test. However, it will react positively to the Tollens' test, also known as the 'silver mirror test'. Benzaldehyde, upon treatment with ammoniacal silver nitrate solution, will produce a silver mirror on the inside of the test tube, which is indicative of aldehydes.