1

CLASSIFICATION OF HYDROCARBONS.

Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy

ABSTRACT

In this experiment, 6 organic compounds, namely: Hexane, Heptane,

Cyclohexane, Cyclohexene, Benzene, and Toluene; were used. The physical and chemical
properties of these compounds were observed in terms of structure and behavior. Through
simple observation, we took note of the compounds odor and color. Also, a test which
concentrated 1 mL H2SO4 added to each compound was conducted to differentiate which
compounds were immiscible or miscible, then an observation of any change and/or change in
temperature was noted. Ignition test was also conducted to test the flammability of the organic
compounds by adding 3-5 drops of the sample in an evaporating dish and lighting it with a
match. Baeyers test and Bromine test was also conducted to test the organic compounds for
active saturation. In Baeyers test, 5 drops of sample was added to 2 drops of 2% KMnO4. The
observation of any brown suspension was noted and decolorization of the reagent was
immediate if it occurred within 1 minute. While in Bromine test, 5 drops of sample was added to
10 drops of 0.5% Br2 in CCl4 reagent and if the reagent failed to decolorize within 1 minute, the
reagent was exposed to the sunlight. Then Nitration was conducted to determine the miscibility
of the 5 organic compounds by mixing 5 drops of the sample and 8 drops of nitrating mixture.
The formation of any yellow oily layer was observed and then the mixtures were put in the water
bath. Lastly, the test for basic oxidation was done to note if any precipitate was formed when 4
drops of sample was added to 8 drops of 2% KMn04 & 10% NaoH solution. The organic
compounds were tested if it is saturated or actively unsaturated, aromatic or aliphatic.

INTRODUCTION

Hydrocarbons are the simplest are certain properties of these compounds

organic compounds. They only contain the
elements carbon and hydrogen. These
organic compounds can be classified into to
saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or acyclic,
and if they are aliphatic or aromatic. There
that are inherent only to a specific class of
compounds. These certain properties of the
compound help determine its classification.
That is the goal of this experiment, to
differentiate hydrocarbons and to anal.

METHODOLOGY
Different tests were performed to
determine the type of hydrocarbon used in
each sample. The characteristics and
results were noted down immediately.
I.)Physical State, Color and Odor
The first step in the experiment
was to determine the physical properties of
the samples. The physical state and color
were noted and the odor was recorded by
wafting each sample to determine its smell.
II. Solubility in Concentrated H2SO4
This test was done to test
solubility of the compound in concentrated
H2SO4. A dropper was used to add a drop
of the sample to about 1 ml of concentration
H2SO4. Any change in color or temperature
was recoded immediately.
III. Ignition Test
Place 3-5 drops of the liquid
sample in a small evaporating dish or watch
glass and light with a match. If the sample is
solid, use a pinch amount.
IV. Test for Active Unsaturation
A. Baeyers Test
test tube in a water bath for 10 minutes.
Dilute with 20 drops of water.
2
Place 5 drops of the sample in test tube.
Add 2 drops of 2% KMnO4 solution. Shake
the test tube and observe the rate at which
the reagent will decolorize. Then, take note
of the formation of a brown suspension.
Compare with water as a negative control.
The decolorization of the reagent is
immediate if it occurs within 1 minute.
B. Bromine test: Place 5 drops of the
sample in a test tube. Add 10 drops of 0.5%
Br2 in CCl4 reagent. Shake the test tube
then observe the rate and color change by
which the reagent is decolorized. Then
compare with water as a control. If the
reagent doesn.t decolorize within a minute,
expose the mixture to sunlight.
V. Test for Aromaticity: Nitration
Prepare the nitrating mixture by placing 2
mL of concentrated HNO3 in an Erlenmeyer
flask which is in an evaporating dish
containing water. Slowly add 2 mL of
concentrated H2S04. Cool the mixture to
room temperature. Place 5 drops of the
sample in a test tube. Add 8 drops of the
nitrating mixture to the sample and shake
the test tube willingly to ensure complete
mixing. Take note of any formation of a
yellow oily layer or droplets. Dilute the
mixture with 20 drops of water. If there is no
reaction observed within a minute, place the
 3

cyclohexane ring is not planar and can

adopt boat and chair conformations; in
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
formula it is represented by a single
Hexane is used to extract hexagon. It is a hydrocarbon with the
edible oils from seeds and vegetables, as a chemical formula of C6H12.
special-use solvent, and as a cleaning
agent. It is a colorless, flammable, liquid
with a gasoline-like odor. It evaporates very
easily into the air and dissolves only slightly
in water. Hexane is highly flammable. It is a
hydrocarbon with the chemical formula
C6H14.

(Figure 3. C6H12 or cyclohexane)

Cyclohexene is a colorless,
(Figure 1. C6H14 or hexane)
flammable liquid with a sharp smell. It used
Heptane is a colorless, highly is an intermediate in various processes to
flammable liquid hydrocarbon. It is used as produce adipic acid, maleic acid, and
a standard in determining octane ratings, a cyclohexene oxide. It is unstable upon long
polar solvent. It is also a straight-chain term storage with exposure to light and air
alkane. It is a hydrocarbon with the because it forms peroxides. It is a
chemical formula C7H16. hydrocarbon with the formula of C6H10.

(Figure 2. C7H16 or heptane)

Cyclohexane is a colorless,
extremely flammable, and liquid
cycloalkane. It is used as a solvent, paint
remover, varnish, and can be oxidized using
hot concentrated HNO3 to adipic acid which
(Figure 4. C6H10 or cyclohexene)
is used for the production of nylon. The
 4

Benzene is a colorless, liquid, like water will only dissolve polar

flammable, aromatic hydrocarbon. The six
carbon atoms of benzene, each with a
hydrogen atom attached, are arranged
symmetrically in a plane, forming a regular
hexagon. It is used to make drugs, some
types of rubbers, lubricants, detergents,
pesticides, explosives, and dyes.
(Figure 5. C6H6 or benzene)
compounds and the other way around.. In
the experiment, miscibility was determined
for each compound. Miscibility is the
property of substances to fully dissolve in
each other at any concentration, forming a
homogeneous solution. Homogenous
solutions mean that compounds are soluble
in concentrated HNO3. Hydrocarbons tend
to be more nonpolar and therefore will only
be dissolved in nonpolar compounds. In the
experiment, hexane, heptane, and
cyclohexane showed miscibility and
solubility. These properties depend on the
intermolecular forces of attraction like, ion-
dipole forces, ion-induced dipole forces, van

Toluene is a colorless, der Waals forces, and hydrogen bonding.

flammable, liquid aromatic hydrocarbon. It is For example, water and ethanol will form a

used as a solvent and as a material for the miscible solution due to hydrogen bonding

synthesis of many compounds, like of both compound and will undergo strong

industrial feedstock, dyes, and explosives. It intermolecular attraction. Alkenes and

has a chemical formula of C7H8. alkynes tend to be more nonpolar due to the
dispersion between molecules. An organic
compound is said to be saturated when it
only contains single covalent bonds,
examples are hexane, heptane, and
cyclohexane. Unsaturated hydrocarbons are
those compounds with double or triple
covalent bonds, examples of saturated
hydrocarbons are cyclohexene, benzene,
(Figure 6. C7H8 or toluene)
and toluene. The results presented in Table
In the Solubility Test, the rule No. 1 show this relationship. Alkanes are
that was followed was the like dissolves therefore considered as saturated
like rule. For example, polar compounds hydrocarbons.

For the ignition test, all of the
compounds are flammable but there is a
difference in the flames luminosity and soot
content. Alkanes react with oxygen and
when they react with oxygen heat and light
is given off. If oxygen is limited, they do not
burn efficiently. Also in the reaction of an
alkane with oxygen, the products are carbon
dioxide and water. The hydrocarbons will
give off carbon monoxide and elemental
carbon. That is the reason why there are
evidences of soot. For alkenes, they react
violently with fire because they have very
reactive multiple carbon bonds.
toluene showed a violent ignition, aside
from the reason that it has reactive multiple
carbon bonds, is that it has oxygen present.
The Bromine test is used to test
for alkanes. The visible positive result for
bromine test is the brown precipitate.
Alkanes can be identified because
requires light for the reaction to take place.
This is evident for hexane, heptane, and
cyclohexane. Alkenes and alkynes also
react with bromine in CCl4 but there is no
need for sunlight for it to complete its
reaction because they are already very
reactive. Therefore, hexane, heptane, and
cyclohexane are saturated hydrocarbons
while cyclohexene, benzene and toluene
(Table 1. Experimental Results)
5
are unsaturated hydrocarbons but are not
actively unsaturated.
Baeyers test will determine if a
compound if they are unsaturated.
Potassium permanganate is a violet solution
and when it reacts with unsaturated carbons
it will changes color showing a brown
precipitate. With this test, it showed that
cyclohexene is actively unsaturated.
Nitration is a chemical reaction
in which a nitro group is added to a
hydrocarbon compound substituting a
Also, hydrogen atom. In nitration, H2SO4 acid
and HNO3 acid are added to react with the
samples. The simple aromatic hydrocarbon
will react with warm H2SO4 to form sulfonic
acid which will then dissolve and then
precipitate when the nitro group is
precipitated. Yellow globules indicate that
the hydrocarbon is aromatic. Bromine and
it
Toluene was tested positive for this test
proving that they are aromatic. The rest
tested negative and are therefore aliphatic.
For oxidation test, KMnO4 was
used as a reagent because it is a very
strong oxidizing agent. This reaction will
signify that there is an oxidation reaction
formed when there is a blue-green solution.
Toluene is the one that has a visible positive
result and therefore is an arene.
 6

Hexane Heptane Cyclohexa Cyclohex Benzene Toluene

ne ene
A. Physical Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid
state at RT
Appearance Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid
Color Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless
Odor Plastic- Chlorine- Alcohol-like Gas-like Gas-like Gas-like
balloon like like
B. Solubility in Clear Clear color Clear Immiscible Immiscible Immiscible
conc. H2SO4 colorless less colorless oily layer oily yellow oily yellow
layer layer
Inference Saturated Saturated Saturated Unsaturat Unsaturate Unsaturat
ed d ed
C. Ignition Flammable Flammable Flammable Flammabl Flammable Flammabl
Test e e
Inference No soot No soot No soot With soot With soot With soot
D. Baeyers Purple Purple Purple Immediate Slow Slow
solution
Test solution solution decoloriza decolorizati decolorizat
tion on ion
Bromine Test Decolorized Decolorize No Colorizatio Decolorized Decolorize
w/ sunlight d w/ decolorizati n w/ sunlight d w/
sunlight on sunlight
Inference Saturated Saturated Saturated actively Not actively Not
saturated saturated actively
saturated
E. Nitration Colorless Colorless Colorless Yellow w/ yellow w/ yellow
solution w/ oily layer oily layer
black
precipitate
Inference Aliphatic Aliphatic Aliphatic Aliphatic Aromatic Aromatic

F. Oxidation No change No change No change Brown No positive Blue-

precipitate visible green
change solution
Inference Not an arene Not an Not an Not an Not an Arene
arene arene arene arene
 7

CONCLUSION

This experiment shows that hydrocarbons can be classified according to its intrinsic
physical and chemical properties. The hydrocarbons were classified saturated, unsaturated,
flammable, inflammable, aliphatic, aromatic, and arene. The solubility test was used to check for
saturation of the hydrocarbon. Hexane, heptane, cyclohexane was tested positive for this test;
therefore they are saturated. Cyclohexene, benzene, and toluene was tested negative; therefore
they are unsaturated hydrocarbons. The flame test was used to check for whether a
hydrocarbon has single bonds or double or even triple bonds. Hexane, heptane, and
cyclohexane had luminous flames which indicated lack of the presence of double bonds.
Cyclohexene, benzene, and toluene tested positive for this test which means the prescence of
double or triple bonds. Baeyers and Bromine tests were used to determine if the compound is
actively or inactively saturated. The alkanes and cycloalkane were tested saturated while
benzene and toluene are actively unsaturated. Only cyclohexene is actively saturated. Nitration
test was used to test for the aromaticity of the hydrocarbon. Only benzene and toluene tested
positive for this test revealing that they are aromatic hydrocarbons. Oxidation test was used to
test the compound whether it is an arene or not, which only toluene was tested positive.

There are millions of hydrocarbons that can possible exist in this world. Classifying
these hydrocarbons into specific groups will make them easier to study and understand. It will
save so much time if the world of chemistry is organized and time is always against us.

REFERENCES BBC United Kingdom. (2014)..

Hydrocarbons. Retrieved from BBC United
Kingdom Web site:
Bathan, G.I., Bayquen.A.V., http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/che
Crisostomo,A.B.C, et.al (2014) Laboratory mistry/materialsfromoil/hydrocarbons/revisio
Manual in Organic Chemistry , revised n/3/
edn., Quezon City,PH. : C&E Publishing
Ivy Rose Holistic. (2013).
,INC..
Hydrocarbons. Retrieved from
http://www.ivy-
 8

rose.co.uk/Chemistry/Organic/Hydrocarbon astr.gsu.edu/hbase/organic/hydrocarbon.ht
s.php ml

The Reaction of Alkanes, Texas State Technical College

Alkenes and Alkynes. Retrieved Bodner (2012). Chemistry of Hydrocarbons.
Research Web site: Retrieved from Texas State Technical
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/to College Web site:
picreview/bp/1organic/reaction.html http://chemtech.org/cn/cn1105/experiments/
hydrocarbons.pdf
Hyperphysics, Nave, C. R..
(2012). Hydrocarbons. Retrieved from Bettelheim, F. & Landesberg, J.
Hyperphysics Web site: (2007)Introduction to General, Organic
http://hyperphysics.phy- andBiochemistry. USA: Brooks/ Cole