ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS

Lassaigne method (Detection of elements)

Element
1.
Nitrogen

Sodium Extract (S.E.)

Na + C + N

Confirmed Test
S.E. + FeSO4 + NaOH
NaCN(S.E.) boil and cool, + FeCl3
+ conc. HCl Blue or
green color

Reactions
Fe(OH)2 + Na2SO4

FeSO4 + 2NaOH
Fe(OH)2 + 6NaCN

Na4[Fe(CN)6]
+ 2NaOH

Remark
NH3 evolution indicates
nitrogen. The appearance of
Prussian blue color confirms
the presence of Nitrogen

HCl

Na4[Fe(CN)6] + FeCl3

3 Na Cl + Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3
Prussian blue

2.
Sulphur

2Na + S

Na2S (S.E.)

(a) S.E. + sodium nitro (a)

prusside (A) A deep
Na2S + Na2[Fe(CN)5NO]
violet color.
(A)
(b) S.E. + CH3COOH +
Na4[Fe(CN)5NOS]
(CH3COO)2 Pb A black
deep violet
ppt
(b)
Na2S + (CH3COO)2Pb

CH3COOH

2CH3COONa + PbS
black ppt

3.
Halogen

Na + Cl

NaCl(S.E.)

S.E. + HNO3 + AgNO3

(i) White ppt. soluble in
aq. NH3 confirms Cl
(ii) Yellow ppt partially
soluble in aq. NH3
confirms Br
(iii) Yellow ppt.
insoluble in aq. NH3

NaX + AgNO3

HNO3

AgX ppt

AgCl + 2 NH3 (aq.)

white
ppt
[Ag(NH3)2]Cl
soluble

Appearance of purple
coloration confirm the
presence of sulphur

4.
Nitrogen
and
Sulphur
together

Na + C + N + S

NaCNS(S.E.)

confirms I (Iodine)
As in test for nitrogen;
instead of green or blue
color, blood red
coloration confirms
presence of N and S
both

Blood red coloration

confirms presence of both
nitrogen and sulphur

NaCNS + FeCl3

[Fe(CNS)]Cl2 + 2NaCl
Blood red colour

Practice test
Q.1

How will you separate?

(a) Ethane, Ethene & Ethyne

(b) 1 Butyne & 2Butyne

(c) 2 Hexyne & 3 Hexyne

(d) Phenol & Propanol

(e) 2 propanol & prapanone

(f) CH3COOH & HCOOCH3

(g) PhOH & PhCOOH

(h) EtOH & EtNH2

(i) EtNH2 & Me2NH

(a) Propane & propene

(b) 1 Butyne & But 2 yne

(c) Hex 2 yne & Hex 3 yne

(d) Pure & oxidized CHCl3

(e) 1, 1 dichloro ethane & 1, 2 dichloro ethane

(f) chloro ethane & chloroethane

(g) p chlorotoluene & benzylchloride

(h) Propanone & Ethanol

(i) Glucose & fructose

(j) HCOOH & HCHO

(k) O Cresol & benzyl alcohol

(j) EtOH & Et O Et

Q.2

How you will you differentiate?

(l) n propyl chloride & isopropyl chloride (m) Isobutanol & ter. Butanol

(n) methanol & ethanol

(o) 2 Pentanol & 3 Pentanol

(p) Ethanol & Propanol

(q) HCHO & PhCHO

(r) HCOOH & CH3COOH

(s) MeNH2 & Me2NH

(t)

CH3

NH2

&

NH2