Wahid, Fatra S.

Group No.4

Date performed: January 09, 2015

Date submitted: January 13, 2015
Experiment No.8
Structural Effects on Melting point and Boiling point

Objectives:

to be able to identify organic compounds by determining their melting and boiling point.
to know how to conduct organic compounds melting and boiling point determination.

Procedure:
Melting point Set-up

Packing the Melting point tube:

Capillary tube
Seal at one end by heating
Pack the pulverize sample

Melting point process:

Heat ignition tube over low flame
Record temp. (when sample starts to liquefy)
Continue taking temp. reading (until temp.
remains constant)
Record Experimental melting point
Calculate % Error

Boiling point Set-up

Boiling point process:

Test tube
5 ml Ethyl alcohol + 2 pcs. Boiling chips
Place in water bath then heat
Record temp. (when substance starts to boil)
Calculate % Error

Data and Results:

Table 1. Melting point determination
Melting point
Trials

Substance

Experimental

Theoretical

% Error

1
2

Benzoic
Acid

122C
121C

122.3C
122.3C

0.25%
1.06%

Table 2. Boiling point determination

Boiling point
Substance
Acetone

Experimental
56C

Theoretical
56C

% Error
0%

A pure crystalline organic substance usually possesses a sharp melting point; that is, it
melts completely over a very short temperature range, usually not more than 0.5-1.0C, provided
good experimental technique is used. The melting point range is influenced not only by the
purity of the material but also by the size of the crystals, the amount of material, the density of its
packing in the tube, and the rate of heating the hot stage. A finite time is required to transfer heat
from the hot stage both through the walls of the capillary tube and throughout the mass of the
sample.
Meanwhile, the boiling point of a liquid will decrease or increase depending on the
impurities which is present. Association of a non-volatile impurity can decreases vapour pressure
since additional energy is needed to break hydrogen bonds, dipole-dipole attraction, or additional
Van der Waals attractive forces in going to the vapour state. A volatile impurity can contribute to
an increase in vapour pressure.
Conclusion:
Acetone and Benzoic acid are organic compounds. When identifying these substances,
boiling point and melting point determination is applicable. The melting point range is
influenced by the purity of the material, size of the crystals, amount of material, density of its
packing in the tube, and the rate of heating the hot stage. Unlike compounds will mutually act as
impurities and cause a depression in the melting point. Melting point depression is a result of the
weakening of intermolecular forces. On the other hand, a sharp boiling point can be a criterion
for the purity of a liquid. The boiling point of a liquid will decrease or increase depending on the
impurities present. Non-volatile impurities decrease vapour pressure while volatile impurities
can contribute to an increase in vapour pressure.

Calculations:

Melting point determination for Benzoic acid

Trial 1:
% Error =

T h eoreticalExperimental
x 100
T h eoretical
122.3 C122 C
x 100
122.3 C

% Error = 0.25 %

Trial 2:
% Error =

T h eoreticalExperimental
x 100
T h eoretical
122.3 C121 C
x 100
122.3 C

% Error = 1.06 %

Boiling point determination for Acetone

% Error =

T h eoreticalExperimental
x 100
T h eoretical
56 C56 C
x 100
56 C

% Error = 0 %

Answers to Questions:

1. How can melting point and boiling point determinations be used in identifying and/or
characterizing unknown compounds?
- Melting and boiling points are often used to characterize organic compounds and to
ascertain their purity. The melting point of a pure substance is always higher and has a smaller
range than the melting point of an impure substance. The more impurity is present, the lower the
melting point and the broader the range. The boiling point of a liquid also depends on the
impurities present. A volatile impurity can contribute to an increase in vapour pressure.

2. What indications do the experimental results give regarding the purity of the samples used?
- For the Benzoic acid, there is a depression in the melting point. It indicates that maybe
there are impurities which weaken the intermolecular forces. For the acetone, the experimental
value is equal to the theoretical value which indicates the purity of the compound.
3. What are the types of intermolecular attractive forces that hold crystals/liquid molecules
together? How do these forces affect the melting point/boiling point of the substance?
- The most powerful intermolecular force influencing neutral (uncharged) molecules is
the Hydrogen bond then the Van der Waals forces. The strengthening of these intermolecular
forces increases melting point. A clear conclusion to be drawn from this fact is that
intermolecular attractive forces vary considerably, and that the boiling point of a compound is a
measure of the strength of these forces. Thus, in order to break the intermolecular attractions that
hold the molecules of a compound in the condensed liquid state, it is necessary to increase their
kinetic energy by raising the sample temperature to the characteristic boiling point of the
compound.
4. What is the effect of an impurity on the melting point/boiling point of a substance?
- In melting point, unlike compounds will mutually act as impurities and cause a
depression in the melting point. Melting point depression is a result of the weakening of
intermolecular forces. Meanwhile, the boiling point of a liquid will decrease or increase
depending on the impurities which is present. Association of a non-volatile impurity can
decreases vapour pressure since additional energy is needed to break hydrogen bonds, dipoledipole attraction, or additional Van der Waals attractive forces in going to the vapour state. A
volatile impurity can contribute to an increase in vapour pressure.