Organic Tests

Test Observation Deduction

1. Solubility Layers/cloudy Insoluble: non-polar e.g. alkanes, alkenes, halogenoalkanes

Miscible/colourless solution forms Soluble: polar/forms H-bonds/low molecular mass e.g. carboxylic acid
2. Odour Characteristic Odour: Vinegar Ethanoic acid
Nail varnish remover Propanone
3. Combustion Ease of ignition?
Burns with sooty/smoky/yellow flame Unsaturated (alkene) or high molecular mass, possible functional group with C=C

Burns with non-luminous/clean/blue flame with no smoke/soot Could be saturated low molecular mass with possibly oxygen

No residue Could be saturated low molecular mass with possibly oxygen

Black residue Carbon residue from a unsaturated or high molecular mass compound with possible functional C=C
4. pH of Solution Indicator turns red/orange/yellow pH < 7 Acidic  carboxylic acid

5. Bromine Water
Measure 1cm3 of unknown into test tube.
Add equal amount of Bromine water,
stopper the test tube and carefully shake.
If organic is gas, bubble through bromine
water.
Indicator turns dark blue/green pH > 7 Acidic  group 1 salts of carboxylic acid
Liquids do not mix. Two layers are formed. Orange bromine layer Immiscible in water. Confirms unknown is unsaturated alkene. (Electrophilic addition takes place)
turns colourless.
Two colourless layers formed, organic layer  orange, aqueous Bromine is more soluble in organic solvent than water, but does not react so no alkene is in it.
layer  orange to pale yellow

6. Acidified Potassium
Manganate
Add 2cm3 of unknown with 2cm3 of
sulphuric acid and 1cm3 of PM. Stopper
and shake carefully.
7. PCl5
Add half a spatula to dry test tube to
1cm3 of unknown. Test with damp blue
litmus paper.
8. Bubble Through Silver
Nitrate
9. Acidified Potassium
Dichromate
Add 1cm3 of unknown organic substance
to a test tube followed by 1cm3 of dilute
sulphuric acid and 6 drops of PD, warm in
water bath.
10.Silver Nitrate
1cm3 of unknown, add 1cm3 of ethanol
with 2cm3 of dilute sodium hydroxide.
Warm mixture in water bath for 3
minutes. Add 2cm3 of nitric acid, then 6
drops of silver nitrate.
11. Addition of Ammonia
Liquids mix to form an even layer. Mixture turns orange to Two liquids are miscible, confirms is an unknown unsaturated compound with a C=C present.
colourless immediately R = H or alkly group (Electrophilic addition takes place)
Liquids do not mix together. Two layers form. Potassium Immiscible in water. Confirms is a unsaturated compound such as an alkene. C=C is present.
manganate turns purple to colourless
Electrophilic addition may take place
Vigourous fizzing. Misty steamy fumes which turn damp litmus Gas evolved is acidic – HCl. Unknown compound contains hydroxy group.
paper blue to red. Alcohol can be identified R-CH2-OH
R = H or an alkyl group and halogenation of alcohol is occurred.
White precipitate is formed when fumes bubbled through solution HCl dissolves in water, alcohol is identified from this. Halogenation of alcohol has occured
Orange solution turns green when warming. Odour may be Alcohol has been oxidised. Primary alcohols can be further oxidised from aldehyde to carboxylic
detected acid
Secondary alcohols are oxidised to ketones. Two R groups attatched to C-OH
No colour change. Remains orange No redox reaction has taken place, tertiary alcohol is present. 3 R groups attached to C-OH
On addition of silver nitrate Halide ion produced during hydrolysis of halogen atom (alkaline hydrolysis)
Pale Yellow (Iodine)
Cream (Bromine)
White (Chlorine)
Precipitate dissolves in dilute ammonia to leave colourless solution Chlorine is found

Precipitate dissolves in conc ammonia to leave colourless solution Bromine is found

Precipitate doesn’t dissolve in any ammonia Iodine is found

12. Brady’s Reagent Yellow/ orange crystals are formed Either an aldehyde or ketone present. Can be distinguished with melting point test.
13. Fehling/ Benedict Turns solution from blue to brown/red Aldehyde present.
Ketone the test does not work. (Elimination)
14. Tollen’s Reagent Creates a silver mirror on the test tube Aldehyde present.
Careful not to let dry and set alight. Can be explosive.
16. Alkane PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
17. Addition of Magnsium Bubbling/fizzing/metal dissolving Carboxylic acid is present, hydrogen gas is given off
18. Addition of Sodium Steady bubbling/fizzing/metal dissolves Hydrogen gas is given off. Ionic compound that is a white solid. Probably an alcohol (primary,
secondary or tertiary)