EXPERIMENT 4: IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUND

1.0 ABSTRACT

2.0 OBJECTIVE

1. To identify the organic compound alcohol

2. To differentiate alcohol with other compounds

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Alcohols are compounds in which one or more hydrogen atoms in an alkane have been

replaced by an -OH group. The suffix -ol appears in the IUPAC chemical name of all

substances where the hydroxyl group is the functional group with the highest priority; in

substances where a higher priority group is present the prefix hydroxy- will appear in the

IUPAC name. The suffix -ol in non-systematic names (such as paracetamol or cholesterol) also

typically indicates that the substance includes a hydroxyl functional group and, so can be

termed an alcohol. Alcohols fall into different classes depending on how the -OH group is

positioned on the chain of carbon atoms. There are some chemical differences between the

various types. [1]

In a primary (1) alcohol, the carbon atom that carries the -OH group is only attached to
one alkyl group. Some examples of primary alcohols are shown below:
Notice that the complexity of the attached alkyl group is irrelevant. In each case there is only
one linkage to an alkyl group from the CH2 group holding the -OH group. There is an exception
to this. Methanol, CH3OH, is counted as a primary alcohol even though there are no alkyl
groups attached to the the -OH carbon atom.In a secondary (2) alcohol, the carbon atom with
the -OH group attached is joined directly to two alkyl groups, which may be the same or
different. [2] Examples include the following:

In a tertiary (3) alcohol, the carbon atom holding the -OH group is attached directly to three
alkyl groups, which may be any combination of the same or different groups.[3] Examples of
tertiary alcohols are given below:

4.0 APPARATUS/CHEMICALS

Apparatus:

Water bath, test tube, test tube holder, beaker, filter paper

Chemicals:

Ethyl alcohol, glycerol, water, potassium dichromate, concentrated sulphuric acid, sodium

acetate, iodine, sodium hydroxide, phenolphthalein, borax solution

5.0 PROCEDURES

A) Oxidation Test

1ml of ethanol is put in a test tube.

1mL of 1M potassium dichromate K2Cr2O7 is added to the test tube.

Drops of concentrated sulphuric acid is added to the test tube.

B) Esterification

1ml of ethanol is put in a test tube.

0.5 gm of sodium acetate is added to the test tube.

Drops of conc. H2SO4 is added & it is heated in a water bath at 60oC for 3 min.

Then the content of the test tube is cooled and poured into beaker containing of 1M
Na2CO3 solution (500ml).
 C) Iodoforms Test :

1ml of ethanol is put in a test tube.

3ml of iodine solution is added & its is heated in a water bath for 3 min, then cooled.

0.1M NaOH is added drop wise till the color is straw yellow a pale yellowish
precipitate of iodoform is produced.

6.0 RESULTS

Test Observation Result

The orange solution turns Ethanol is oxidized by
Oxidation Reaction: into green solution. potassium dichromate to
form ethanol
(acetaldehyde).
K2Cr2O7 + 4 H2SO4 + 3 CH3CH2OH 3 CH3CHO+ K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3+ 7H2O

Release characteristic Ethyl acetate is produced

Esterification : sweet smell when ethanol are heated
with sodium acetate in
the presence of
concentrated H2SO4.
 -A pale yellow precipitate Ethanol is oxidized to
Iodoforms Test : is formed. ethanol, then it react
-Release medical smell with iodine and NaOH to
form triiodomethane.

7.0 DISCUSSION

Ethyl alcohol is colorless liquid, have characteristic odor, miscible in water, toxic, and

burnt by colorless flame. Ethyl alcohol, CH3CH2OH is a primary alcohol. In the first test, the

ethyl alcohol is reacted with potassium dichromate and drops of sulphuric acid. This is a

oxidation reaction therefore the alcohol is oxidized to aldehyde, CH3C HO. The oxidising

agent used in these reactions is a solution of potassium dichromate (VI) acidified with dilute

sulphuric acid. If oxidation is successful, the orange solution containing the dichromate (VI)

ions is reduced to a green solution containing chromium(III) ions. If the alcohol is heated

under reflux with an excess of the oxidising agent, the carboxylic acid can be distilled off.

The second test is about esterification process. Esters are derived from carboxylic

acids. A carboxylic acid contains the COOH group, and in an ester the hydrogen in this

group is replaced by a hydrocarbon group of some kind. Esters are produced when carboxylic

acids are heated with alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst. The catalyst is usually
concentrated sulphuric acid. The esterification reaction is both slow and reversible. The

equation for the reaction between an acid RCOOH and an alcohol ROH. So, for example, if

you were making ethyl ethanoate from ethanoic acid and ethanol, the equation would be:

The third test is about Iodoform test. Iodoform test is carried out to determine

determine the presence of methyl carbonyl group using iodine and sodium hydroxide

solution. This is chemically the more obvious method. Iodine solution is added to a small

amount of an alcohol, followed by just enough sodium hydroxide solution to remove the

colour of the iodine. If nothing happens in the cold, it may be necessary to warm the mixture

very gently. A positive result is the appearance of a very pale yellow precipitate of

triiodomethane (previously known as iodoform) - CHI3. Apart from its colour, this can be

recognised by its faintly "medical" smell. It is used as an antiseptic on the sort of sticky

plasters you put on minor cuts, for example.

8.0 CONCLUSION

Primary alcohols can be oxidized to either aldehydes or carboxylic acids, depending on

the reaction conditions. In the oxidation test, the orange solution potassium dichromate turns
into green colour which indicate that the ethanol is oxidized to an aldehyde. The esterification
test proved that esters can indeed be created by combining carboxylic acids and alcohols. The
reaction between the ethanol, sodium acetate and sodium carbonate produce ethyl acetate
which create sweet scents. For iodoform test, a positive result would be indicated by a pale
yellow precipitate in the test tube. The presence of hydroxide ions is important for the reaction
to happen. The methyl group of the ketone is then removed from the molecule to produce
iodoform (CHI3).
9.0 RECOMMENDATION

In this lab, one precaution would be for the concentrated sulphuric acid, which is caustic
and dangerous. Therefore the sulphuric acid should be handled in the fume hood in laboratory.
Other than that, ethanol is highly flammable liquid and vapour so keep away from heat
especially when transferring the amount needed into a test tube to carry out the test. Iodine is
corrosive when it is in contact with skin therefore wear protective gloves and goggles when
carrying out this experiment. Moreover, it can be recommended that reaction can be performed
only if the reagents used are free from any contamination.

10.0 REFERENCE

[1] https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Organic_Chemistry/Alcohols

[2] http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/alcohols/background.html

[3] Q. Ashton Acton 2013 Halogenated HydrocarbonsAdvances in Research and

Application ScholarlyEdition Publications