Lab Hydrocarbons

Objective:
Observe and compare the reactivity of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Background:
You may have read this above title and asked yourself, unsaturated hydrocarbon, well what is a
saturated hydrocarbon. Saturated refers to the hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon. If an organic
compound is composed only of single bonds it is saturated with hydrogen. Meaning there is no
where for another hydrogen to bond to the carbons, this type of hydrocarbon is referred to as an
alkane. An unsaturated hydrocarbon will have double or triple bonds, these types of
hydrocarbons are referred to as alkenes, for double bonds or alkynes, for triple bonds. This
means you could bond more hydrogen atoms to these carbons, if the double or triple bonds
were broken. If you have a 2 carbon compound the most hydrogen atoms this compound could
hold would be 6. If there is a double bond the compound will have 4 hydrogen and if there is a
triple bond the compound will have 2 hydrogen atoms. See the below chemical and structural
formulas.
Saturated Unsaturated Unsaturated
alkane alkene alkyne
ethane ethene ethyne
C2H6 C2H4 C2H2
H H H H
H C C H C C H C C H
H H H H

An aromatic compound must have at least one benzene rings are highly stable organic
molecules and are very prevalent in organic compounds. They are classified as aromatics as
many are very fragrant. As stated these are rings, specifically 6 carbon rings the difference
between benzene C6H6 and cyclohexane an unsaturated hydrocarbon, C 6H12 are the double
bonds. The formula C6H6 indicates a ring with alternating double bonds. Shown below are the
structural formula and the symbol for benzene.

H
H C H
C C
C C
H C H
H
Procedure:
1. Your observations are the most important aspect of lab. Remember to be as descriptive as
possible and highly organized. Record all observations and data.
2. Obtain a sample of the following, cyclohexane, cyclohexene and toluene.
3. Working inside the fume hood, place 5-10 drops of these samples on a watch glass or in an
evaporating dish.
4. Ignite with a burning splint or match.
5. Record observations of color of the flame and the nature of the smoke.
6. Place 1 ml of each solution to be tested in a clean, dry test tube.
7. Note the color of the 5% bromine in CCl4 solution and add 3 drops to each test tube.
8. Agitated the tubes gently. Record observations.
9. Any tube that still shows bromine color after 1 minute should be exposed to a strong light or
UV light for an additional 2 minutes. Record your observations.
10. Place 1 ml of each solution to be tested in a clean, dry test tube.
11. Add 3 drops of 2% KMnO4 to each test tube.
12. Agitated the tubes gently. Record observations.

Concluding Questions:
1. Which classes of hydrocarbons show similar reactivity for these reactions?
2. Why is strong light needed in the Br2 test?
3. Write out the reaction for Br2 and each of the 3 samples.

Pre-Lab:
1. What is the structural formula for each of the three samples?
2. Which of these samples is a saturated hydrocarbon?
3. Which of these samples is a unsaturated hydrocarbon?
4. What is the name and structural formula for CCl 4?
5. List and draw three hydrocarbons you use in every day life.