SIC 1003 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

EXPERIMENT 1:QUALITATIVE ELEMENTAL

ANALYSIS
NAME :MUHAMMAD DZIKRAN BIN SUDIN
MATRIC NO :SIC180013
COURSE :BACHELOR OF CHEMISTRY
LECTURER NAME :DR THOLSTEN HEIDELBERG
DATE OF EXP :11.4.2019
GROUP :
OBJECTIVE:
 To carry out Lassaigne test to determine the elements present in the
unknown.
 To identify an unknown chemical by testing its chemical and physical
properties.

EXPERIMENTAL:
APPARATUS:pyrex test tube(4.5×45mm),test tube,evaporating dish,5 mL
measuring cylinder,wire gauze,beaker,hot plate,filter funnel,droper
CHEMICAL:sodium metal,unknown W,distilled water, iron(II) sulphate,10%
sulphuric acid,5M acetic acid,1%lead acetate,5% silver
nitrate,dichloromethane,5%sodium hypochlorite,1 M nitric acid
PROCEDURE:

LASSAIGNE’S TEST:
1. 10 mg of unknown W and small cube of sodium metal was placed into
pyrex tube
2. The tube was heated strongly until the bottom of the tube was glowing
red,the tube was hold for 5 minutes
3. The hot tube quickly immersed in an evaporating dish that containing 10
mL distilled water
4. The solution was boiled on a hot plate for a few minutes while gently
crushing the residue with mortar
5. The solution was filtered and colourless filtrate obtained

TEST FOR NITROGEN:

1. 0.5 mL of the filtered solution was added to a tube containing 0.12 g of
powdered iron(II) sulphate crystal
2. The mixture was acidify with dilute sulphuric acid and the mixture was
boiled for 30 seconds
3. Any changes was observed

TEST FOR SULPHUR:

 1. 0.5 m L of the fusion solution was acidify with dilute acetic acid
2. A few drops of 1% lead acetate was added to a solution
3. Any changes was observed
TEST FOR HALOGEN:
1. 0.5 mL of the fusion solution was acidify with dilute nitric acid and
concentrated to half of its original volume
2. The mixture was diluted with an equal volume of distilled water
3. 1-2 drops of 5% aqueous silver nitrate solution was added
4. Any changes was observed
TEST FOR IODINE:
1. 3 mL of the fusion solution was acidify with 10 % sulphuric acid solution
and heated to boiling for few minutes
2. After cooling,1 m L of dichloromethane was added followed by a drop of
5% sodium hypochlorite
3. Any changes was observed

TEST FOR BROMINE:

1. 3 mL of the fusion solution was acidify with 10 % sulphuric acid solution
and heated to boiling for few minutes
2. After cooling,1 m L of dichloromethane was added followed by a drop by
drop of 5% sodium hypochlorite while shaking until a possible purple
colour dissapear
3. Any changes was observed

RESULTS:
COMPOUND W

Test Result Observation

Test for Nitrogen Positive Colorless to Prussian
Blue
Test for Sulfur Positive Colorless to Black
precipitate
Test for Iodine Negative No changes
 Test for Bromine Negative No changes
Test for Halogen Positive Colorless to White
Precipitate

DISCUSSION:
In an organic compound, elements such as nitrogen, sulphur and halogens can
be easily detected by the reaction with sodium metal. The method used for the
qualitative determination of these compounds are known as the Lassaigne’s
test or the sodium fusion test. The non-polar nature of organic compounds
make the determination of nitrogen, sulphur and halogens difficult because
organic compounds do not ionize in solution to produce ions of these
elements. Thus it is necessary to convert these elements into inorganic ions
before carrying out the test. Heating the organic compounds with sodium
metal converts the above elements into their corresponding sodium salts.
heat
Organic Compounds + Na NaCN + Na2S + NaX + NaOH
[Containing C, H, O, N, S, X]

Sodium metal is dangerous as it can react vigorously with water resulting in an

explosion.
2 Na (s) + 2 H2O (l) 2 NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)
Therefore sodium metal is kept dipped in liquid paraffin to prevent exposure to
moisture.
When heating the first sample of W with sodium metal, the tube shattered
during the heating process. This was because the heating process was done
too quickly. The sodium metal may have reacted with water that was
condensed at the top of the tube causing a vigorous reaction in the tube which
lead to the shattering of the tube during heating. White fumes were observed
coming out of the tube and the mouth of the tube was ignited showing that
hydrogen gas was being released.
When heating was done properly, the sodium metal reacted with the organic
compound W forming the corresponding sodium salts. Due to the difference in
temperature of the tube and the distilled water in the evaporating dish, the
tube shattered when placed into it. Excess sodium reacts with water to form
sodium hydroxide. The alkaline solution is known as Lassaigne’s extract.
According to the observation of “Tests for Nitrogen”, it can be seen that
nitrogen is present in the organic compound W. Nitrogen is converted to
sodium cyanide when the compound is heated with sodium metal. Sodium
cyanide is then tested by adding iron (II) sulphate crystals (part of which
undergoes aerial oxidation to form iron (III) sulphate during heating) then
heating and acidification with dilute sulphuric acid. The appearance of Prussian
blue precipitate due to the formation of iron (III) ferrocyanide, Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3
indicates the presence of nitrogen. The equations of the reactions are as
shown below.
6 NaCN + FeSO4 Na4[Fe(CN)6] + Na2SO4
air
FeSO4 Fe2(SO4)3
3 Na4[Fe(CN)6] + 2 Fe2(SO4)3 Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 + 6 Na2SO4
Prussian blue precipitate

Lassaigne’s extract is acidified with dilute acetic acid followed by drops of lead
acetate solution. The formation of black precipitate indicates the presence of
sulphur in organic compound W.
Na2S + (CH3COO)2Pb PbS + 2 CH3COONa
Black precipitate

For the test for halogens, the presence of nitrogen and sulphur in the organic
compound plays an important role. If nitrogen or sulphur is present in the
organic compound, the formation of white precipitate of AgCN or the black
precipitate AgS may interfere the test for halogens. Thus the CN- and the S-
needed to be removed first. This was done by acidifying the fusion solution
with dilute nitric acid and concentrating it to expel any hydrogen cyanide or
hydrogen sulphide.
NaCN + HNO3 NaNO3 + HCN
Na2S + HNO3 NaNO3 + H2S
Once treated with silver nitrate solution, a heavy white precipitate was
observed. The white precipitate is due to the formation of silver chloride thus
indicating the presence of chloride.
Cl- + AgNO3 AgCl + NO3-
White precipitate

PRECAUTION STEPS:
 Sodium must be handled carefully and avoid direct contact with skin
 Cover the dish immediately with wire gauze once the tube is immersed
in water to avoid any splatter

CONCLUSION:
Detection of elements such as nitrogen, sulphur and halogens in an organic
compound is made possible through the Lassaigne’s test (sodium fusion
technique). Organic compound W shows positive results for nitrogen, sulphur
and chlorine. Thus these elements are present in Compound W.
REFERRENCES:
National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on Acute Exposure Guideline Levels. Acute
Exposure Guideline Levels for Selected Airborne Chemicals: Volume 2. Washington
(DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. 5, Hydrogen Cyanide: Acute Exposure
Guideline Levels. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207601/

Pavan M.V. Raja & Andrew R. Barron (2019). Physical Methods in Chemistry and Nano
Science. Chemistry LibreTexts, National Science Foundation. Retrieved from :
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Book%3A_ Physical_
Methods_in_Chemistry_and_Nano_Science_(Barron)/01%3A_Elemental_Analysis/
01.1%3A_Introduction_to_Elemental_Analysis

Vutturi, Aditya. “Lassaigne's Test.” AdiChemistry, Retrieved from:

www.adichemistry.com/organic/basics/analysis/lassaignes/lassaignes-test.html.

POST LAB QUESTIONS:

1. Write the equation for the formation of a black precipitate if sulfur is
present in the sample.
 S2− + Pb(CH3COO)2 → PbS + 2CH3COO−
Black precipitate

2. The mixture is boiled in a fume cupboard to expel the nitrogen and sulfur that
may be present in the sample. Explain.

- This step is taken to expel the hydrogen cyanide gas and hydrogen sulfide
because they are dangerous and poisonous gas

3. How are the sodium wastes in the experiment destroyed?

The sodium wastes should be destroyed by reaction with absolute

ethanol.