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Tollens' reagent is a chemical reagent used to differentiate between aldehydes and ketones. It is prepared by dissolving silver nitrate (AgNO3) in dilute ammonia solution. The reagent consists of the diamminesilver(I) cation, [Ag(NH3)2]+, which is a powerful oxidizing agent. When Tollens' reagent reacts with an aldehyde, it oxidizes the aldehyde to a carboxylate ion, while the silver ions are reduced to metallic silver, forming a shiny silver mirror on the inside of the reaction vessel.