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Analysis of Hydrocarbons

Leonise Gelito, Godwin Evan Halfon*, Antonio Hernandez, and Jose Carmelo Javier
Department of Chemistry, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines

Abstract The objectives of this experiment entitled, Analysis of Hydrocarbons", are to differentiate various types of hydrocarbons; to device a scheme to distinguish hydrocarbons from each type; and to characterize an unknown hydrocarbon through parallel chemical tests. Hydrocarbons are divided into Aliphatic (saturated or unsaturated) and Aromatic (with or without sidechain). Chemical Analysis is a foolproof way of correctly evaluating the reaction of an unknown sample to a given chemical test with the use of reference standard. The reference standards used for this experiment were Hexane, Cyclohexane, Naphthalene and Toluene. There are also three tests utilized to characterize the unknown sample, which are the Nitrate, Bromine and Permanganate tests.

Introduction Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds. Containing only carbon and hydrogen, they can be straight-chained, branched chain, or cyclic molecules. Carbon tends to form four bonds in a tetrahedral geometry. Hydrocarbon derivatives are formed when there is a substitution of a functional group at one or more of these positions. Hydrocarbons are usually of general use by utilizing chemical reactions that are either classified as addition or bond-rupture reactions.

Four different hydrocarbons are usually the most common subject to test for the analysis of hydrocarbons. These are the Hexane, Cyclohexane, Naphthalene and Toluene. These four are also classified to different types of hydrocarbons, which are the Saturated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, Unsaturated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, Alkylated Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Non-alkylated Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Refer to Figure 1.

Saturated Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Hexane

Unsaturated Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Cyclohexane

Aromatic without Side Chain Naphthalene


Figure 1: Hydrocarbons

Aromatic with Side Chain Toluene

Results and Discussions Four different hydrocarbons were subjected to different in order to differentiate and analyze what type of hydrocarbon are the samples. The observed results of the tests are shown in Table 1.

Class of Hydrocarbon Saturated Aliphatic Unsaturated Aliphatic Aromatic without side chain Aromatic with side chain

Sample

Nitration Test Clear pink color (-) Rusty dark red color (-) Yellow precipitate (+) Yellow precipitate (+)

Bromine Test Orange color (-) Clear colorless (+) Clear red color (-) Yellow color (-)

Permanganate Test Purple color (-) Brown precipitate (+) Purple color (-) Purple color (-)

Hexane

Cyclohexane

Naphthalene

Toluene

Table 1: Observed results in the experiment

In

the

Nitration

Test,

concentrated

H2SO4 and concentrated HNO3 with 1:1 ratio was used as the nitrating reagent. This test will give a positive result for the Aromatic
Figure 2: Nitration of Naphthalene

Hydrocarbons. The positive result will be determined if the reaction shows a yellow oil or yellow precipitate.

In the Bromine Test, 5% Br2 in CH2Cl2 was used as the reagent. This test will give a positive result for Unsaturated Hydrocarbons. The positive result will be determined if the solution in the reaction decolorizes or changes to a colorless liquid.

Figure 4: Nitration of Toluene

Figure 3: Bromination of Cyclohexane

In

the

Permanganate

Test,

0.1%

aqueous KMnO4 and 10% NaOH were used as the reagents. This test will give a positive result for Alkylated Hydrocarbons or Aromatic
Figure 5: Toluene in KMnO4

Hydrocarbons with side chain. The positive result will be determined if the reaction shows a brown precipitate.

Tests Nitration

Reagents 1:1 conc. H2SO4 and conc. HNO3 5% Br2 in CH2Cl2 0.1% aq. KMnO4 10% aq. NaoH

Positive for Aromatic Hydrocarbons Unsaturated Hydrocarbons Alkylated Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Visible Result Yellow oil or precipitate Decoloration of solution (colorless) Brown precipitate

Bromine

Permanganate

Table 2: Summary of the results

Hydrocarbons

Aliphatic

Aromatic

Saturated

Unsaturated

Alkylated

Non-alkylated

Figure 6: Schematic Analysis of Hydrocarbons

Experimental Nitration Test: Ten drops each of the sample were placed in four separate test tubes. Then ten drops of the nitrating reagent were added to each of the sample. The mixtures were shaken and placed in a hot water bath for 5 minutes. 20 drops of distilled water were added to each of the test tubes. And lastly, the observations were recorded. Bromine Test: Ten drops each of the sample were placed in four separate test tubes. Then ten drops of the bromine reagent were added to each of the sample. The mixtures were shaken and the observations were recorded. Permanganate Test: Ten drops each of the sample were placed in four separate test tubes. Then five drops of 0.1% of KMnO4 and five drops of 10% NaOH were added to each of the sample. The mixtures were shaken and placed in a hot water bath for 2 minutes. And lastly, the observations were recorded.

References Klein, D., (2012). Organic Chemistry. USA: John Wiley & Sons Inc. R.J. Fesseden and J.S. Fesseden, Organic Chemistry, 4th Edition, California, U.S.A, Pacific Grove, 1990, Pages 103, 431, 477. Michelle, J. Sienko, Robert A. Plane, Chemistry, 5th Edition, London, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1981, Pages 455-465.

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