Laboratory Report: Chemistry 2311-1L

Our Lady of the Lake College

Pre-Lab
Name: Tevin Erlambang
Partner Name: Kirstie Bridges
Date:
I. Title: Organic Redox- Luminol & Chemiluminescence
II. Objective (one sentence): To perform an organic oxidation-reduction reaction that displays
chemiluminescence.
III. Table of Chemicals:
Name

Formula/ Structure (must be

drawn)

Hazards

PPE

3-Nitrophthalic acid

C8H5NO6

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

8% Hydrazine soln

NH2NH2

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

Triethylene glycol

C6H14O4

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

Sodium hydroxide

NaOH

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

Spring 2015

Sodium hydrosulfite

Acetic acid

Luminol

Hydrogen peroxide

Potassium
hexacyanoferrate (III)

Na2S2O4

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

CH3COOH

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

C8H7N3O2

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

H2O2

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

C6N6FeK3

Skin and eye irritant, Splash goggles.

ingestion and
Lab coat, gloves
inhalation hazard

IV. Procedure (cited procedure only):

See "Procedure" section of the experiment, Organic Redox- Luminol & Chemiluminescence.
V. Observations (no more than one paragraph, 5-10 sentences):
In step 6 when we allowed our mixture to cool to 100 C, and then added 15mL of hot water and
then cooled again under cool water, a yellow crystalline solid formed (3-Nitrophthalhydrazine).
In step #9 after adding glacial acetic acid, the solution was acetic to litmus. At some point in the
experiment there was an error and we ended up just using some luminol powder and continuing
the experiment that way.Tthe solution began to illuminate and gave this fluorescent blue color
after we added the Potassium hexacyanoferrate (III).

Spring 2015

VI. Calculations (if applicable) (must be written):

N/A
VII. Discussion and Conclusions (no more than one paragraph, 5-10 sentences):
This mechanism is also used to make glo sticks glow. This Chemiluminescence occurs when a
molecule is left in an excited state as a result of a chemical reaction. When oxidized by an
oxidizing agent such as O2 in a basic solution, luminol forms an unstable peroxide, which
decomposes to an electronically excited dianion that then chemilumineses. This was definitely
my favorite experiment because of the pretty color it gave off.
VIII. Post-Lab Questions (copy and paste directly from the labs posted in Moodle)
1. Describe the chemical theory behind organic "redox" reactions. An oxidationreduction (redox) reaction is a type of chemical reaction that involves a transfer of
electrons between two species. An oxidation-reduction reaction is any chemical reaction
in which the oxidation number of a molecule, atom, or ion changes by gaining or losing
an electron. Redox reactions are common and vital to some of the basic functions of life,
including photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, and corrosion or rusting
2. Write the reaction for the oxidation of dithionite ion during the reduction of 3nitrophtalhydrazide to luminol, including the mechanism.

3. Biochemical connection- Select a reaction: the firefly luciferin reaction or the

luminol/blood crime scene reaction. Describe this reaction in detail, noting

significant biological factors that lead to chemiluminescence/bioluminescence in
nature or at a crime scene. The light, or luminescence, emitted in the luminol reaction is
thought to result when an oxidizing agent, such as blood, catalyzes the oxidation of
luminol by hydrogen peroxide in a basic solution. The reaction is not specific to blood,
however, as other oxidizing agents such as sodium hypoclorite (bleach), certain metals,
and plant peroxidases may also cause luminescence with luminol. Because the reaction is
not specific to blood, a follow up presumptive test, such as phenolphthalein, is typically
run on potential samples prior to collection.

Spring 2015