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GENERAL TESTS
The flavonoids being tested in the corn extract contain polyphenolic molecules
which are weakly acidic in nature. In the first general test for flavonoids, the extract was
first treated with a small amount of a weak concentration of NaOH (5%). The addition of
5% NaOH to the extract didnt give very evident reactions because at first, it only gives
a colorless solution which contains sodium phenoxide. Also, only 5 gtts of a weak
concentration of NaOH was added. (G.A. Ayoola, September 2008)
The experimental result of the first general test for flavonoids was consistent to
its theoretical positive result which is the decolorization of the extract. This indicates the
presence of polyphenolic flavonoids in the corn extract. (G.A. Ayoola, September 2008)
SPECIFIC TESTS
Primary and secondary alcohols and aldehydes react with chromic acid or Jones
reagent and give a blue-green precipitate in this test. Aldehydes are oxidized to
carboxylic acids, secondary alcohols are oxidized to ketones and primary alcohols are
oxidized first to aldehydes and then to carboxylic acids. Ketones and tertiary alcohols
are unreactive under the test conditions.
Lucas Test
Coordination of the zinc chloride with the hydroxyl results in the formation of a
sufficiently good leaving group. The carbon-oxygen cleavage can occur when
reasonably stable carbocation is produced.
Alkyl Chloride
(insoluble-cloudiness)
Lucas test for alcohol is a test to differentiate primary, secondary and tertiary
alcohols. It is based on the difference in reactivity of the three classes of alcohols with
hydrogen halides.
The principle behind this is the SN1 or substitution nucleophilic by first order
reaction which caused the turbidity (halide compounds insoluble in water.)
Bromine Test
Alkenes and alkynes will readily add bromine across the multiple bonds unless
there are electron withdrawing groups on the multiple bonds. One observes the rapid
disappearance of the red-brown bromine color. Aromatic compounds can react with
bromine more slowly to give bromine substitution and the formation of HBr, which can
sometimes be observed by placing a piece of wet litmus paper over the mouth of the
test tube.
The principle behind this reaction is the addition of a halogen into the double
bond. These results to an alkene with a halogen attached. The experimental result is the
same with the theoretical result where there is the formation of white precipitate due to
the discharging of the bromine color without the evolution of the hydrogen bromide gas.
Baeyers Test
This
reaction is
used as a qualitative test for the presence of an alkene (compounds with carbon-carbon
double bonds) or an alkyne (compounds with carbon-carbon triple bonds).
The experimental result of this test was consistent with the positive result of
Baeyers test which is the formation of a brown suspension or the decolorization of the
reagent. This indicates the presence of alkenes in flavonoids contained in the corn
extract. In the case of flavonoids specifically quercetin, though it is an aromatic
compound, it still contains alkenes separated from the aromatic part which caused the
positive reaction for this test.
For pentose:
pentose dehydration product: blue-green/moss green solution
furfural
For hexose:
hexose dehydration product: yellow-green precipitate/
5-hydroxymethylfurfural muddy brown-gray condensation
product