Which of the following reagents will distinguish between ethene and ethyne?
ABromine water
BAcidified KMnO₄ solution
CAmmoniacal silver nitrate solutionCORRECT
DConcentrated H₂SO₄
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Ammoniacal silver nitrate (Tollens' reagent for alkynes) reacts with terminal alkynes like ethyne to form a white precipitate of silver acetylide (Ag₂C₂), but does not react with ethene. Both ethene and ethyne decolourise bromine water and acidified KMnO₄, so these cannot distinguish them.
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