Experiment No.

Qualitative Test for Elements in Organic Compounds

Dens Lister M. Mahilum

MIGUEL ANGELITO T. LACASAN

Instructor

Chemistry 23A
MF 7-10 AM

19 March 2018
 Qualitative Test for Elements in Organic Compounds

I.INTRODUCTION
Organic chemistry is the study of compounds that contain carbon. It is one of the major
branches of chemistry. The history of organic chemistry can be traced back to ancient times when
medicine men extracted chemicals from plants and animals to treat members of their tribes. They
didn't label their work as "organic chemistry", they simply kept records of the useful properties
and uses of things like willow bark which was used as a pain killer. Their knowledge formed the
basis of modern pharmacology which has a strong dependence on knowledge of organic
chemistry. (Katz et. al, 1990)

The term ‘organic’ was originally coined to describe molecules associated with living
organisms. This section of chemistry is therefore popularly termed “the chemistry of life”, as it was
discovered and previously thought to flourish exclusively in living beings. However, this definition
isn’t completely true and is not the only rule to determine whether a compound is organic or
inorganic. For instance, carbon dioxide is based on carbon and is highly central to both animals
and plants, but it’s far from being organic. A popular consensus has been established, insisting
that organic compounds are structures that contain carbon as well as hydrogen, bonded
covalently together, collectively known as a ‘C-H’ group. This group is then further attached to
nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, silicon etc. to pave the way for a plethora of organic compounds.

Qualitative test is always applied as a first step in identifying a compound when a new
compound is readily prepared or isolated from some natural source. In an organic compound,
elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are assumed to be present commonly. Nitrogen, Sulphur
and halogens (chlorine, bromine and iodine) may also present in the organic compound. The
identification of elements in a given compound is a type of qualitative test since the experiment is
dealing with the composition of a unknown compound. This experiment must be handled very
carefully as further the analysis of the organic compound is according to the element present in
it. The presence of the elements can be analyzed through a series of tests based on their specific
reactivity. (Laidler et. al, 1982)

To apply the above concept, an experiment was conducted with the following objectives:
(1) To determine the elements present in an unknown organic
compound; (2) To study the specific reactions responsible for the identification
of an element in the compound; and (3) To learn the proper techniques involved in the elemental
analysis of organic compounds.
II.METHODOLOGY

A. Materials and Apparatus

The chemicals used in the experiment where as follows: Test Solution,

Ferrous sulfate, (40% NaOH Solution, 5M Sulfuric Acid, Ferric Chloride Solution,
Soda lime, dilute acetic acid, lead acetate solution, sodium nitroprusside solution,
silver nitrate solution, ferrox paper, litmus paper, toluene, ethanol and water. The
apparatus used included 50-mL beaker, dry test tubes, alcohol lamp, stirring rod,
glass funnel, iron stand, dropper, filter paper, test tube rack and test tube holder.

B. Procedure

1.Test for Nitrogen

a. Lassaigne`s Test

We added 2 drops of saturated ferrous sulfate to a 2 mL test

solution. To produce a distinct alkalinity, a 40% NaOH solution were then
added. We then heated the solution until it boils and then filtered to remove
the FeS. The filtrate was then acidified using a few drops of 5M sulfuric acid
and then we added 2 drops of a ferric chloride solution. We then let it stand
for 10 minutes.

b. Soda lime test

We added a few amount of soda lime in a test solution. Using an

alcohol lamp, we heated the solution. When vapor is observed, a litmus
paper has been placed in the tip of a stirring rod and then exposed it to the
vapor.

2. Test for Sulfur

a. Lead sulfide test

We acidify 2 mL test solution by adding few drops of dilute acetic

acid. We then added a few drops of lead acetate to the solution.

b. Sodium Nitroprusside Test

We add 2 mL sodium nitroprusside in the test solution and observed

the results.
 3. Test for Halogens

We acidify 2 mL test solution by adding few drops of dilute acetic

acid. Using the alcohol lamp, we heated the solution until it boils. We added
3 drops if silver nitrate solution and heated it again for 3 minutes. We then
observed the precipitate that has accumulated in the test tube.

4. Test for Oxygen

We placed a piece of ferrox paper in 4 dry test tubes. We added 10

drops of toluene to the first test tube, 10 drops of ethanol to the second test
tube, 10 drops of water to the third test tube and 10 drops of test solution
to the fourth test tube. And then observed the results.

III. RESULTS

Table 1.1 Qualitative Test for Elements in Organic Compounds

Test Observations Conclusion

(+) or (-)
Lassaigne`s Test Formation of Prussian blue +
precipitate

Soda lime Test Change in the color of the +

litmus paper (from red to blue)

Lead sulfide test Formation of Black precipitate +

Sodium Nitroprusside Test Deep reddish-violet solution +

Test for halogens Light yellow to dark yellow +

solution. Formation of white
precipitate.
Table 1.2 Test for Oxygen

Compounds Observations Conclusion

(+) or (-)
Toluene Colorless solution -

Ethanol Deep red solution +

H2O Deep red solution +

Test Solution Blue-green solution -

IV.DISCUSSION

Qualitative test is always applied as a first step in identifying a compound when a new
compound is readily prepared or isolated from some natural source. In an organic compound,
elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are assumed to be present commonly. Nitrogen, Sulphur
and halogens (chlorine, bromine and iodine) may also present in the organic compound. The
identification of elements in a given compound is a type of qualitative test since the experiment is
dealing with the composition of a unknown compound. This experiment must be handled very
carefully as further the analysis of the organic compound is according to the element present in
it. The presence of the elements can be analyzed through a series of tests based on their specific
reactivity. (Laidler et. al, 1982)

In this experiment a series of test have been conducted to test the presence of unknown
elements of a given test solution. To test the presence of Nitrogen in the solution, we conducted
two series test`s namely: Lassaigne`s test and Soda lime test. Lassaigne’s test is used in
elemental analysis of qualitative determination of elemental nitrogen in a given test solution.
Sodium is a very strong reducing agent that will able to break up the organic compounds carbon
atom chain. It also will convert the atoms which are covalently bonded to the carbon chain to
inorganic ions. Nitrogen is detected by sodium fusion test (Lassaigne`s test). The organic
compound is fused with metallic sodium to convert this element into ionic mixture which dissolved
in water and the filtrate is used to perform the tests. The organic compound undergoes sodium
fusion (Lassaigne`s Test) test which the carbon present in the particular compound is reduced
partially to elemental carbon. The nitrogen present in the compound is reduced to cyanide ion,
CN- while the sulphur present is converted into the sulfide ion, S2-. Any halogens (Cl, Br, I) that
are present in the compound are reduced to the halides ions, Cl-, Br- and I-. A precipitate of an
iron/cyanide complex with the characteristic of dark blue colour (Prussian blue) is formed formed
that indicates a cyanide ion is present in the compound. If sodium is not heated well, very little
amount of cyanide ion is produced during fusion test. So, a greenish solid may result. It is always
helpful to repeat the sodium fusion test in order to confirm the presence of nitrogen if only the
greenish solid is being produced.

The sodium cyanide formed after the fusion is converted to sodium ferrocyanide which
produced a Prussian blue precipitate with ferric chloride in acid solution. Balanced equations are
shown below:

2NaCN + Fe5O4 Fe(CN)2 + Na2SO4

Fe(CN)2 + 4NaCN Na4Fe(CN)2

3Na4Fe(CN)2 + 4FeCl3 Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 + 12NaCl

(Ferric ferrocyanide – Prussian blue ppt.)

In soda lime test, Compounds which contains amino nitrogen separates ammonia when
heated with soda lime. The ammonia that have been liberated is detected through exposing a
litmus paper that been placed at the end of a stirring rod. A changed from red to blue litmus paper
indicates the foresaid chemical.

Several techniques can be used to test the presence of sulfide ion in the unknown organic
compounds. Hydrogen sulfide gas will be produced if the filtrate obtained from sodium fusion
products is acidified. This can be noted by the formation of lead(II) sulphate precipitate is formed
after the lead(II) ions introduced into the solution. In this experiment, sulfide ions is tested by
adding with sodium nitroprusside reagent. The formation of purple or violet colour shows the
presence of sulfide ion. Another test can be done by adding lead acetate after we acidify the
solution using a dilute acetic acid to the said test solution. Formation of black precipitate confirms
or indicates the presence of lead sulfide in the solution.

The following are the balanced equation for the observed results:

a. Sulfide ion (violet colored complex)

Na2S + Na2CNO(CN)2 Fe(CN)5(NO)S-4 + 4Na+

b. lead sulfide (black precipitate)

Na2S + (CH3CNOO)2Pb 2CH3CNOONa + PbS

The addition of silver nitrate to an acidified solution will precipitate the silver halide which
is white to yellow (in color but darkens upon exposure to the light, if nitrogen and sulfur is present,
silver cyanide (white) and silver sulfide (black) also precipitate) For the compound consists of
more than one halogen, the mixed precipitate of silver halides can be observed as a result.
However, it may be necessary to remove the cyanide ion and sulphide ion if they were present.
Otherwise, these ions will precipitate with the silver ions to form precipitate which will mislead to
the presence of halogens in the compound. In this experiment we observed a white precipitate
that indicates the presence of chlorine in the solution. Balanced equation is shown below:

NaCl + AgNO3 AgCl +NaNO3

We can see the overall observed results regarding the test for Nitrogen, Sulfur and Halogens that
are listed in table 1.1 that are showed above.

Ferrox paper is used to test the presence of oxygen in a compound. When an oxygen is
present, the complex ion FeCl3 distributes itself between the filter paper and test compound,
resulting a deep-red colored solution. Nonoxygen containing compounds remains colorless. In
this experiment we add 10 drops of toluene in a dry test tubes. And the solution remains colorless,
this indicates the absent of oxygen in the said compound. We repeated the procedure but now
with different compounds; ethanol, water and the test solution. Ethanol and water produces red
colored solution when added to ferrox paper, this indicates the presence of oxygen. While when
we add the test solution to the ferrox paper, the solution remains colorless, thus oxygen is absent.

V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

In this experiment, we test the presence of the unknown elements that are present in the
given test solution. We observed that different elements can be detected through specific test.
Thus these said elements have different characteristics in terms of their polarity and reactivity.
Organic compounds cannot be tested directly but indirectly thus we performed specific series of
test to test the presence of specific element present in the test solution. This experiment really
required a skill, effort and a lot of patience. Human error can be a cause of having erroneous
results, so a student will repeat the test with patience and skill to come up with the desired results.
Contamination will also contribute to a misleading results, a student may wash thoroughly the
apparatuses he or she will use before and after that student will start the experiment. In a group
experiment like this, teamwork is best advice, every member of the group must cooperate
accordingly. In this experiment, we used many kinds of chemicals that will be hazardous for a
student when it this chemical is being contact physically especially in the skin or eyes, thus
wearing of any of the following: laboratory gown, googles or glasses, surgical gloves (if available),
hairnet (for girls, to avoid hair contact with fire) and masks (if available) is a must. Precision and
accuracy can be applied in this kind of laboratory experiment. Lastly every student must listen
very attentively to every instruction that the instructor will give for a safety and a successful
experiment like this.
VI. REFERENCES

KATZ, C. 1990. History of Organic Compounds Available at

http://www.chymist.com/OrganicCompounds.pdf Retrieved on March 16, 2018.
Laidler, J. 1982 Organic Chemistry (Cummings 1982), pp. 18–19
https://www.britannica.com/science/organic-compound.html. Retrieved on March 16,
2018.
https://www.scienceabc.com/what-are-organic-compounds.html Retrieved on March 16, 2018.
http://greenmedicine.ie /A-Brief-History-of-Organi-Chemistry.pdf Retrieved on March 16, 2018.
http://chem-guide/2010/04/qualitative-analysis-of-organic.html Retrieved on March 18, 2018.
http://chemistry.blog.com/212/qualitative-analysis-of-organic.html Retrieved on March 18, 2018.