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6.4D - Individual Tests - Chemistry LibreTexts PDF
6.4D - Individual Tests - Chemistry LibreTexts PDF
Figure 6.46: a) Cleaning copper wire in a flame, b) Dipping copper wire into the reagent, c) Negative result (hexanes), d) Positive result (1-
chlorobutane).
BENEDICT'S TEST
The Benedict's test can verify the presence of reducing carbohydrates: compounds that have hemiacetals in their structures and are
therefore in equilibrium with the free carbonyl form (aldehyde or α-hydroxyketone). The carbonyl forms are oxidized by the Cu
2 +
in the Benedict's reagent (which complexes with citrate ions to prevent the precipitation of Cu(OH) and CuCO ). An insoluble2 3
Cu O is the inorganic product of this reaction, which usually has a red-brown color (Figure 6.47). Carbohydrates with only acetal
2
linkages are non-reducing sugars and give a negative result with this test.
Figure 6.47: Structure of hemiacetals and acetals, along with the reaction of a hemiacetal with the Benedict's reagent.
Procedure: Dissolve 10 -30 mg of solid or 3 drops liquid sample in a minimal amount of water (0.5 mL) in a small test tube (13 x
100 mm ). Add 2 mL of Benedict's reagent. Warm the blue solution in a boiling water bath for 2 minutes (Figure 6.48a). A positive
9
result is the formation of a reddish-brown solution or precipitate after some time, while a negative result is retention of the blue
color (Figure 6.48c+d).
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Figure 6.48: a) Heating the Benedict's solution in a boiling water bath, b) Benedict's test results: left tube is sucrose (negative), right tube is
glucose (positive), c) Negative result, d) Positive result.
Conjugated aldehydes are unreactive in the Benedict's test, and the author found many non-conjugated aldehydes to also be
unreactive. Formation of colloids seem to prevent the formation of the red precipitate (Figure 6.49 shows the appearance of
propionaldehyde in the hot water bath, forming a cloudy colloid).
Figure 6.49: Reaction of propionaldehyde in the Benedict's test: a) In the beginning, colloid formation on the surface, b) After time. Notice
orange solid on the test tube rim, indicating a reaction is possible when exposed to the atmosphere.
The reaction may only work for compounds that are water soluble (like carbohydrates), as the reaction seems to initiate at the
surface (Figure 6.50), and the author found aldehydes that formed an insoluble layer on the surface to be unreactive.
Figure 6.50: Time-lapse reaction progress of the Benedict's reagent reacting with glucose.
The Benedict's test is related to the Fehling's test, which uses different ligands on the copper oxidizing species. The Fehling's
reagent uses a Cu ion complexed with two tartrate ions.
2 +
BICARBONATE TEST
Carboxylic acids and sulfonic acids can react with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO ) to produce carbon dioxide and water (Figure
3
6.51). Other mainstream functional groups (most phenols and alcohols) are not acidic enough to produce a gas with bicarbonate.
Figure 6.51: Reaction of carboxylic and sulfonic acids with bicarbonate ion.
Procedure: Add 2 mL of 5% NaHCO (aq) into a test tube and add 5 drops or 50 mg of your sample. Mix the solution by agitating
3
the test tube. A positive test for carboxylic acids is the formation of bubbles or frothing (Figure 6.52).
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Figure 6.52: a) Negative result (acetone), b) Positive result (lactic acid), c) Positive result (octanoic acid).
BROMINE TEST
A solution of bromine in CH Cl is a test for unsaturation (alkenes and alkynes) and in some cases the ability to be oxidized
2 2
(aldehydes). The bromine solution is orange and upon reaction the solution turns colorless due to the consumption of bromine.
Bromine reacts with alkenes and alkynes through addition reactions and with aldehydes through oxidation (Figure 6.53). It gives
no reaction with aromatics, making this a good test to distinguish alkenes from aromatics.
the orange 5% Br in CH Cl solution to the test tube and observe. A positive result is the immediate disappearance of the orange
2 2 2
color to produce a clear or slightly yellow solution (Figure 6.54). A negative result is the retention of the orange color. An aldehyde
may require a small amount of time to decolorize the solution and produce a positive result (approximately 1 min, Figure 6.55) and
conjugated aldehydes are unreactive (Figure 6.55).
Figure 6.54: a) Addition of the bromine solution (orange liquid) to a test tube, b) Bromine results: hexanes (left tube), 1-hexene (right tube), c)
Negative result, d) Positive result.
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Figure 6.55: Bromine results for isobutyraldehyde (left tube) and benzaldehyde, a conjugated aldehyde (right tube): a) Immediately after
addition of the bromine reagent, b) After 1 minute.
alcohols, and secondary alcohols (Figure 6.57). Tertiary alcohols give a negative result with this test (Figure 6.56). The orange Cr
6 +
Figure 6.56: Negative (a) and positive (b) results for the chromic acid test.
Figure 6.57: Reaction of a primary alcohol, secondary alcohol, and aldehyde with the chromic acid reagent.
Procedure: Place 1 mL of acetone in a small test tube (13 x 100 mm ) and add 2 drops or 20 mg of your sample. While wearing
gloves, add 2 drops of the orange chromic acid reagent (safety note: the reagent is highly toxic!) and mix by agitating. A positive
10
result is a blue-green color or dark precipitate, while a negative result is a yellow-orange solution or precipitate with no dark-
colored precipitate (Figure 6.58).
Water works better than acetone to rinse chromium reagents into the waste beaker, although some time needs to be allowed for
dissolution of the Cr species.
3 +
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Figure 6.58: a) Chromic acid results (left to right): t-butanol (tertiary, negative), 1-propanol (primary, positive), 2-propanol (secondary,
positive), benzaldehyde (positive), b) Immediate reaction of benzaldehyde, c) Benzaldehyde reaction after 1 minute.
Figure 6.60: a) 2,4-DNPH results for (left to right) ethyl acetate (negative), 2-butanone (positive), benzaldehyde (positive), cinnamaldehyde
(positive), b) Negative result, c) Positive result from a non-conjugated carbonyl, d) Positive result from a conjugated carbonyl.
is shown in Figure 6.61. This test is related to the phenol test, and as in that test, compounds with high enolic character can give a
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colored complex with Fe . Therefore, a preliminary test is performed to see if the carbonyl compound being tested produces
3 +
enough enol to form a colored complex with Fe , which would lead to a false positive result.
3 +
solution is clear or yellow (the color of the FeCl , Figure 6.62a), this test will work and not produce a false positive (continue on). If
3
a definite color other than yellow appears, this test will not work for your sample, as it forms a colored complex with Fe even 3 +
without hydroxylamine.
Into a clean medium sized test tube (18 x 150 mm ), add 1 mL of 0.5 M aqueous hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH OH ⋅ HCl) , 2
0.5 mL of 6 M NaOH (aq) , and 5 drops or 50 mg of sample. Heat the mixture in a boiling water bath for about 3 minutes (the
A positive result is a deep burgundy, umber, or magenta color (red/brown) while a negative result is any other color (Figure
6.62c+d). Note: use water to rinse out the test tubes,and if a red result won't easily clean up, add a few drops of 6 M HCl .
Figure 6.62: a) Preliminary procedure to be sure the test will not give a false positive, b) Heating the solution, c) Negative result (2-pentanone),
d) Positive result (ethyl acetate).
IODOFORM TEST
A solution of iodine (I ) and iodide (I ) in NaOH can be used to test for methyl ketones or secondary alcohols adjacent to a
2
−
methyl group. This is a very specific test that will give a positive result (formation of a canary yellow precipitate) only for
compounds with the structure RCH(OH)CH or RC=OCH (Figure 6.63). It does not work for all alcohols or ketones, and does
3 3
Figure 6.63: Reaction of secondary alcohol or methyl ketone with the iodoform reagent.
Procedure: Add 10 drops sample to a small test tube (13 x 100 mm ) or 0.10 g dissolved in the minimal amount of 1,2-
dimethoxyethane followed by 1 mL of 10% NaOH (aq). Next add 10 drops of the dark brown iodoform reagent (I /KI solution) 12
2
Figure 6.64: a) Iodoform results (left to right): 1-propanol, 2-propanol, acetone, 1-octanol (b) Negative result, c) Positive result, d) Negative
result when the sample is insoluble in the reagent.
LUCAS TEST
The Lucas reagent (concentrated HCl and ZnCl ) is a test for some alcohols. Alcohols can react through an S 1 mechanism to
2 N
produce alkyl halides that are insoluble in the aqueous solution and appear as a white precipitate or cloudiness. The test cannot be
used for water-insoluble alcohols (generally > 5 carbon atoms), as they may produce a cloudiness or second layer regardless if any
reaction occurred or not.
o o
2 or 3 ROH + HCl/ZnCl → RCl (s) (6.4D.1)
2
As the mechanism is S 1, a tertiary alcohol should react immediately, a secondary alcohol react more slowly (perhaps in 5 minutes
N
if at all) and primary alcohols often don't react at all. Benzylic alcohols (Ph−C−OH) , allylic alcohols (C=C−C−OH) and
propargylic alcohols (C ≡ C−C−OH) often give immediate results just like tertiary alcohols.
Procedure: Place 2 mL of the Lucas reagent (safety note: the reagent is highly acidic and corrosive!) into a small test tube (13 x
13
100 mm ). Add 10 drops of sample, and mix by agitating the test tube.
A positive result is a white cloudiness within 5 minutes or a new organic layer (RCl) formation on the top. 14
A negative result is
the absence of any cloudiness or only one layer (Figure 6.65).
Figure 6.65: a) Lucas test results (left to right): 1-propanol (primary, negative), 2-propanol (secondary, negative), t-butanol (tertiary, positive),
benzyl alcohol (benzylic, positive), b) Negative result, c) Positive result.
oxidized (aldehydes and some alcohols, Figure 6.66). The permanganate ion (MnO ) is a deep purple color, and upon reduction
−
4
converts to a brown precipitate (MnO ) . Permanganate cannot react with aromatics, so is a good test to discern between alkenes
2
and aromatics. A positive reaction with alcohols is not always dependable (a negative result is seen with benzyl alcohols in Figure
6.67).
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and will stain skin brown!). Mix the test tube with agitation, and allow it to sit for 1 minute. A positive result is the appearance of a
brown color or precipitate. A negative result is a deep purple with no precipitate (unreacted KMnO , Figure 6.67). 4
Figure 6.67: a) Baeyer test results for (left to right) ethyl benzene (negative), 1-hexene (positive), isobutyraldehyde (positive), benzyl alcohol
(mostly negative), b) Negative result, c+d) Positive results.
PH TEST
Carboxylic acids and sulfonic acids produce acidic aqueous solutions (Figure 6.68a), which can be confirmed by turning blue
litmus paper pink. The paper changes color (Figure 6.68c) as the indicator molecules react in the lowered pH and form a structure
that has a different color.
Figure 6.68: a) Reaction of carboxylic acid with water to produce a slightly acidic solution, b) Results of a negative pH test, c) Results of a
positive pH test.
Procedure: Dissolve 3 drops or 30 mg of sample in 1 mL of water. Dip a glass stirring rod into the solution and touch the rod to
blue litmus paper. A positive result is a pink or red color on the litmus paper (Figure 6.68c). If the sample doesn't dissolve in water,
instead dissolve the same amount of unknown in 1 mL of ethanol. Add enough water to make the solution barely cloudy. Then
add a few drops of ethanol to turn the solution clear again, and test with the litmus paper.
PHENOL TEST
A ferric chloride solution is a test for phenols, as they form intensely colored complexes with Fe (often dark blue). The actual
3 +
structure of these complexes is debated, but may be of the general form in Figure 6.69. Some carbonyl compounds with high enol
15
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A positive result is an intense blue, purple, red, or green color while a negative result is a yellow color (the original color of the
FeCl solution, Figure 6.70).
3
Figure 6.70: a) Phenol test results for (left to right) lactic acid (negative), p-cresol (positive), pyrogallol (positive), b) Negative result, c)
Positive result (typical color), d) Positive result (less common color, by pyrogallol, a bidentate ligand).
halides (which may or may not react, even with heating), and primary alkyl halides or aromatic halides give no reaction. Benzylic
(PhCH X) and allylic (CH =CHCH X) alkyl halides will also give a fast reaction. A positive test result is the formation of the
2 2 2
insoluble AgX (Figure 6.71). AgCl and AgBr are white solids, while AgI is a yellow solid.
Figure 6.71: Reaction of alkyl halides with the silver nitrate solution.
Procedure: In a small test tube (13 x 100 mm ), add 2 mL of 1% AgNO in ethanol solution. Add 4 drops of liquid sample or 40 mg
3
fo solid dissolved in the minimal amount of ethanol. Mix the test tube by agitating. Some compounds will have an initial
insolubility when first mixed, but the solid often dissolves with swirling. A positive result is a sustaining white or yellow
cloudiness. If cloudiness does not occur within 5 minutes, heat the tube in a 100 C water bath for 1 minute (Figure 6.72b). Absence
o
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Figure 6.72: a) Silver nitrate results at room temperature for (left to right) 1-chlorobutane (primary, negative), 2-chlorobutane (secondary,
negative), 2-chloro-2-methylpropane (tertiary, positive), b) Boiling water bath, c) Results after boiling water, middle tube is faintly cloudy
(secondary, positive).
For reactions that produce an intense precipitate, the solution may also turn blue litmus paper pink (Figure 6.73c+d). An analysis
of the reaction mechanism can explain the source of this acidity.
Figure 6.73: a) Negative result, b) Positive result, c) Litmus test on a negative AgNO test, d) Litmus test (acidic) on a positive AgNO test.
3 3
alkyl halides react faster than secondary alkyl halides, and tertiary alkyl halides generally give no reaction. The reaction is driven
by the precipitation of the NaCl or NaBr in the acetone solvent. Therefore, a positive test result is the appearance of a white
cloudiness (NaX solid).
Procedure: In a small test tube (13 x 100 mm ), add 2 mL of 15% NaI in acetone solution. 16
Add 4 drops of liquid sample or 40 mg
of solid dissolved in the minimal amount of ethanol. Mix the test tube by agitating.
A positive result is a sustaining white cloudiness. If cloudiness does not occur within 5 minutes, heat the tube in a 50 o
C water bath
for 1 minute. Absence of cloudiness even at 50 C is a negative reaction (Figures 6.74+6.75).
o
Figure 6.74: Sodium iodide results at room temperature for (left to right), 1-chlorobutane (primary, positive), 2-chlorobutane (secondary,
negative), 2-chloro-2-methylpropane (tertiary, negative), b) Heating in a warm water bath, using a thermometer to monitor the temperature, c)
Results after the warm water bath, resulting in the clouding of the middle tube (secondary, positive).
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Figure 6.75: a) Positive result (primary alkyl halide), b) Positive result after heating in a 50 o
C water bath (secondary), c) Negative
result (tertiary).
TOLLENS TEST
The Tollens reagent (Ag(NH ) ) is a mild oxidizing agent that can oxidize aldehydes, but not alcohols or other carbonyl
3
+
compounds. A positive test result is the formation of elemental silver (Figure 6.76), which precipitates out as a "silver mirror" on
the test tube, or as a black colloidal precipitate.
sized test tube (18 x 150 mm ). A dark precipitate of silver oxide will form (Figure 6.77b). Add dropwise enough 10% NH OH (aq) 4
to just dissolve the precipitate (note some time should be allowed between additions). This solution is now the Tollens reagent
(Figure 6.77c).
+
Ag(NH )
3 2
Dissolve 3 drops or 30 mg of sample in a few drops of diethyl ether (omit solvent if compound is water soluble). Add this solution
to the 2-3 mL of previously prepared Tollens reagent. Mix the test tubes by agitating. A positive result is a silver mirror on the
edges of the test tube, or formation of a black precipitate. A negative result is a clear solution (Figures 6.77d+6.78).
Clean-up: The reagent may form a very explosive substance (silver fulminate) over time, so the test should be immediately cleaned
up. Acidify the solution with 5% HCl (aq), then dispose in a waste beaker. A silver mirror can be removed from the glassware by
adding a small amount of 6 M HNO (aq) . 3
Figure 6.77: a) Silver nitrate solution b) Ag O precipitate formed after addition of NaOH , c) Clarified solution after the addition of
2
ammonium hydroxide, d) Tollens test results for (left to right) 2-pentanone (negative), isobutyraldehyde, benzaldehyde (positive).
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The chromic acid reagent is prepared as follows: 25.0 g of chromium(VI) oxide is added to 25 mL concentrated sulfuric acid,
10
which is then added in portions to 75 mL of water. The reagent has a very long shelf life (10+ years).
11
Preparation of the 2,4-DNPH reagent, as published in B. Ruekberg, J. Chem. Ed., 2005, 82(9), p. A1310, is as follows: To a dry
125 mL Erlenmeyer flask is added 3 g 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, 20 mL water and 70 mL of 95% ethanol. The solution is cooled
in an ice bath with stirring, and when at 10 C, 15 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid is added slowly in portions. If the temperature
o
exceeds 20 C during the addition, the solution should be allowed to cool to 10 C before continuing. The solution is then warmed
o o
to 60 C with stirring, and if solids remain, they are filtered. Finally, the solution is cooled.
o
12
Preparation of the iodoform reagent is as follows: 10 g KI and 5 g I is dissolved in 100 mL water.
2
13
Preparation of the Lucas reagent is as follows: 160 g of fresh anhydrous ZnCl is dissolved in 100 mL of cold concentrated HCl .
2
14
Although chlorinated organics are typically denser than water, the Lucas reagent has a high quantity of solute, and chlorinated
compounds tend to be less dense than the reagent.
15
See Nature, 24 June 1950, 165, 1012.
16
This solution often has a yellow tin to it.
CONTRIBUTOR
Lisa Nichols (Butte Community College). Organic Chemistry Laboratory Techniques is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Complete text is available online.
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