CLASSIFICATION TEST FOR HYDROCARBONS

Tinuviel M. Esguerra, Zyra Fem C. Flores, Kherson Gandola,

Dionne Audrey G. Go, Ma. Ellah Patricia Gutierrez
Group 4 2C Biochemistry Organic Chemistry Laboratory

ABSTRACT
Organic compounds have different physical and chemical attributes, such as appearance, state, color, odor, and
solubility that differs every compounds. This experiment aims to differentiate the following organic compounds
through observations and by performing tests. It also aims to differentiate organic compounds in terms of certain
intrinsic physical properties and its behavior towards ignition. The following organic compounds that were given as
samples are cyclohexane, DCM, ethanol, phenol, benzoic acid, ethyl acetate, and ethylamine. The experiment begins
with observing the physical properties of the samples such as their color, odor and appearances. Next, the solubility of
the samples were determined by obtaining 4 drops of each sample and testing each in 3ml solvent of water, 5% NaOH
solution and 5% HCl solution respectively in separate test tubes. The samples namely ethylamine, DCM and ethanol
are confirmed to be soluble in water are tested with blue and red litmus paper to determine their acidity and basicity.
The last test is the ignition test which determines the flammability of the organic compounds. The compounds that are
found to be flammable are ethyl acetate, cyclohexane, and ethanol. This experiment concludes that every organic
compound has its own unique property.

INTRODUCTION

Organic Compounds are the basis of carbon in acids or bases gives to more specific
cycle of the Earth. They belong to a large class information about the samples. The objective of
of chemical compounds, such as solid, liquid or this experiment is to differentiate organic
gaseous compounds whose molecules contain compounds in terms of: (a) certain intrinsic
carbon atom. The carbon atom is always physical properties (b) behavior towards
connected to other elements and mostly, the ignition.
common atoms that are attached to carbon are
hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. However, it is EXPERIMENTAL
only capable of bonding to four other atoms
and cant exc eed. This enables the carbon to A. Compounds Tested
create complex, flexible molecules.
a. Cyclohexane [4]
Moreover, organic compounds can be
classified into hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon
derivatives. Hydrocarbons are the organic
compounds mainly composed of only carbon
and hydrogen atoms. They can either be
straight - chain, branched chain or cyclic
molecules. This class can be still divided into
b. DCM [4]
two groups; (a) aliphatic hydrocarbons that are
comprise of linear chains of carbon atoms (b)
aromatic hydrocarbons that are made up of
CH2Cl2
closed rings of carbon atoms. On the other
hand, hydrocarbon derivatives are formed when c. Ethanol [4]
theres a replacement of a functional group in
hydrocarbons. They are primarily consisting of
carbon and hydrogen with a specific functional
group attached. They are insoluble to water
because they are non-polar compounds while
water is a polar solvent. In addition, in order to
determine the functional groups that can be d. Phenol [4]
found in organic compounds, infrared
spectroscopy can be used.

Organic compounds have different physical

properties such as odor, color and solubility in
different solutions. Solubility of the compounds
 paper. The color changes in both litmus paper
was noted.
e. Benzoic Acid [4]
Ignition Test
Three to five drops of the liquid sample was
placed in a small evaporating dish and then was
lighted with a match. If the sample is solid, a
pinch amount was used. The sample was
observed if it is flammable or not. The color of
flame produced was noted.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

f. Ethyl Acetate [4] A. Observation of Physical State at Room

Temperature, Color and Odor of Samples

Most of the hydrocarbons appeared to be

clear and colorless except for Phenol, which
became red upon oxidation, and Benzoic acid,
which became a crystallized solid [1]. A
compound changes color when it is most likely
g. Ethylamine [4] to be stored in a long time and perform
oxidation [2]. Most oxidized compounds
exhibited an intensified color [3]. In this part of
the experiment, Amost all samples were in a
liquid state except for benzoic acid. The odors
of the compounds were quite similar to each
other in terms of intensities but have
differences when it comes to their identities
[2], except for Cyclohexane, DCM, and Benzoic
B. Procedure acid, which appeared to be odorless. Ethanol
smelled like a perfume. Phenol, on the other
1. Physical State, Color and Odor of each hand, got a paste-like odor. Ethyl Acetate
Organic Compounds smelled like a plastic balloon, and Ethylamine
got an ammonia-like odor.[5]
The physical state of the sample was
observed at room temperature. Then, the Table 1. Intrinsic properties of samples
color was noted and with a wafting
motion, the odor was described.
Physica Color Odor
l State
Solubility Properties of each Organic
at RT
Compounds
Cyclohexan Liquid Colorles Odorless
e s
The sample was introduced in a clean and dry
test tube. 4 drops of each sample was added if DCM Liquid Colorles Odorless
s
the sample is a liquid; and 0.1 g of sample was
added if the sample is a solid. The solid Ethanol Liquid Colorles Perfume-
s like
samples were grinded to increase the surface
area. The solvent was added drop wise and Phenol Liquid Red Paste-like
Benzoic Solid White Odorless
counted the number of drops of solvent added
to a total of 3mL. Any change, warming effects, Acid Crystals
Ethyl Liquid Colorles Plastic
soluble/insoluble, miscible/ immiscible or
effervescence was noted. Acetate s Balloon-
like
Reaction with Litmus Paper of the Organic Ethylamine Liquid Colorles Ammonia
Compounds that were Soluble in Water s -like

If the water is soluble in water, the aqueous

solution was tested with red and blue litmus
 B. Test for Solubility Properties of Sample
in H2O, 5% NaOH solution and 5% HCl
solution
The solubility properties of the organic
compounds were tested using H2O, 5% NaOH
solution, and 5% HCL solution to know if its
soluble or insoluble, or if its miscible or
immiscible, if its in a liquid state.
In the results that were gathered, when the
organic compounds were tested, only Ethanol
and Ethylamine appeared to be miscible in H 2O
(water). Benzoic acid, on the other hand, since
it is in a solid state, appeared to be insoluble
with H2O (water).
Reaction with litmus paper indicated acidity,
basicity or neutrality of water-soluble samples.
Acidic solution turns blue litmus paper to red
and red litmus paper to red. Blue litmus paper
to blue and red litmus paper to blue indicates a
basic solution. Neutral solution is characterized
by blue to blue litmus paper and red to red
litmus paper. [1]
In this part of the experiment, only those
that are soluble in water were tested. DCM and
ethanol appears to be neutral, while Ethylamine
was observed to be a basic organic compound.
Table 3. Acidity, basicity and neutrality of
samples

When 5% NaOH solution was used to Reaction with

determine the solubility of the organic Litmus Paper
compounds, only Cyclohexane and DCM Cyclohexane -
appeared to be immiscible. However, Benzoic
DCM Neutral
acid, since it is in its solid state, is called to be
soluble in 5% NaOH solution. (b-b,r-r)
Ethanol Neutral
Using a 5% HCl solution, the organic (b-b,r-r)
compounds reacted differently. Cyclohexane, Phenol -
DCM, Phenol, and Benzoic acid exhibits an
immiscible or insoluble property. Ethanol, Ethyl Benzoic Acid -
Acetate and Ethylamine, on the other hand, Ethyl -
exhibits a miscible property. acetate
Ethylamine Basic
(b-b,r-b)
Table 2. Solubility of Samples in different
Solvents
D. Ignition Test

The result of the Ignition test indicates the

H2O 5% NaOH 5% HCl presence of unsaturated or high carbon to
soln soln hydrogen ratio. The degree of luminosity can be
assessed by the presence of yellow or luminous
Cyclohexane Immiscible Immiscible Immiscible flame.[3] The aromatic compounds burn with
Benzoic Acid Insoluble Soluble Insoluble sooty flame due to the incomplete combustion,
DCM Immiscible Immiscible Immiscible
which causes the formation of an unburned
Immiscible Miscible Miscible carbon. [5] The higher the number of Carbon
Ethyl
Ethanol Miscible Miscible Miscible
atoms, the higher the degree of luminosity. In
acetate addition, the higher the Carbon: Hydrogen
Phenol Immiscible Miscible
Miscible Miscible Immiscible
Miscible
Ethylamine Ignition Test Ratio, the higher the degree of luminosity. In
Cyclohexane Flammable (Luminous flame) terms of degree of luminosity: aromatic
compound > unsaturated hydrocarbon >
DCM Non-flammable saturated hydrocarbon.[3]

Ethanol Flammable (Non-luminous flame)

Phenol Non-flammable
Table 4. Degree of Luminosity of the Samples
Benzoic Acid Non-flammable

Ethyl acetate Flammable (Non-luminous flame)

Ethylamine Non-flammable

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