What is the mechanism of the Tollens test and how does it differentiate between aldehydes and ketones?

The Tollens test involves the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids by silver ions in a basic solution. This forms a silver mirror on the inside of the test tube. Ketones do not react with Tollens reagent and do not produce a silver mirror. This test is used to differentiate between aldehydes and ketones based on their reactivity with Tollens reagent.