Discussion of Benzoic Acid Identification Test

In this section, the processes, reactions and experimental procedures will be discussed
further. The Benzoic Acid Identification Test is done with different reagents to confirm of its
presence in the reactions and also identify the products formed on the reactions. The reagents
used are Benzoic Acid in solid form, Soda Lime powder, Ammonium Hydroxide in liquid state
and Ferric Chloride or Iron(III)Chloride in liquid state.

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 1:

The first test conducted in the Benzoic Acid Identification Test is through heating. A
small sample of Benzoic Acid in powder form is taken with a spatula and is heated on a Bunsen
burner. What was observed was the production of dark smoke after heating the compound. This
smoke is carbon dioxide, one of product of the reaction. The process is due to the heat's
energy, the electrons of the compound became in higher state, making them more excited. This
helped break down bonds present on the compound, it also increased the molecular collision
between the atoms causing the carboxyl group attached on the benzene ring to dissociate
forming carbon dioxide and a benzene as a product. This process is called decarboxylation.

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 1 Diagram: Benzoic Acid when heated Reaction

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 2:

The second test included the reagents Benzoic Acid and Soda Lime. Soda Lime consists
of Sodium Hydroxide and Calcium Oxide. In this test, a pinch of Benzoic acid is added on a test
tube with the use of a spatula. Soda lime is then added into the test tube to form a mixture of
Benzoic Acid and Soda Lime. The test tube, with its contents is then heated with the use of a
Bunsen burner. After a couple of minutes, the once powder mixture is now in a clear liquid state.
A small formation of smoke has also been observed. Similar to the first test, this is due to the
decarboxylation of the carboxyl group attached on the benzene ring. The smoke was carbon
dioxide and the remaining liquid inside the test tube was the mixture of benzene and the soda
lime. In this reaction. The calcium oxide acts as a catalyst for the reaction to take place, the
main reacting agent is the sodium hydroxide. In the presence of heat the carboxyl group of the
benzoic acid gets removed, the hydroxyl group of the sodium hydroxide then bonds with the
hydrogen ion on the carboxyl group to form water. The remaining carbon atom and two oxygen
atom of the once carboxyl group forms covalent bonds with each other to form carbon dioxide,
the smoke that is produced in the reaction. A sodium ion, a phenyl and a water is then left inside
the test tube. The phenyl attracts one of the hydrogen atoms of the water molecule, since they
are being heated, it is much more easy for reactions to take place due to their excited state.
This will cause the one of the hydrogen atoms of water to break and bond with the phenyl
creating a benzene. What is left is then a sodium ion and a hydroxyl group which will then bond
with each other to form sodium hydroxide once again. The reaction removes the carboxyl group
to form benzene and carbon dioxide.

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 2 Diagram: Benzoic Acid and Soda Lime Reaction.

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 3.1:

The third test will involve two separate parts, first with the reagents as Benzoic Acid and
Ammonium Hydroxide. In this test, a pinch of benzoic acid is added on a clean test tube. Small
drops of liquid ammonium hydroxide is then added to form a mixture. The mixture is then heated
on a Bunsen burner, this is done three times with removal of the test tube in the Bunsen burner
and reheating of the test tube because of the mixture's violent nature when being boiled, making
spilling of contents possible. After the heating process, it formed a solution which is transparent.
This is the product that is produced, Ammonium Benzoate and water. In this, one of the
hydrogen atoms in the carboxyl group of the benzoic acid dissociates and bonds on the
hydroxyl group in the solution of ammonium hydroxide to form water. What is left then is a
phenyl and ammonium, a different form of bonding occurs between the two compounds, it forms
an intermolecular attraction where in the unpaired electron on one of the carbons of the phenyl
is attracted to the positively formal charge of the ammonium's nitrogen atom, creating an
attraction between the two compounds, it then forms Ammonium Benzoate. Ammonium
Benzoate and water is then seen inside the test tube, this is the product of the reaction.

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 3.1 Diagram: Benzoic Acid and Ammonium Hydroxide
Reaction

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 3.2:

The second part of the third benzoic identification test involves the product from the
previous reaction, the Ammonium Benzoate and water, and the addition of Ferric Chloride. With
the solution from the previous test, 1ml of Ferric Chloride is added into the test tube, what is
observed is the change in color, from transparent liquid to a rusty brown colored liquid, and a
formation of a precipitate. In this reaction, the Ammonium Benzoate will react with Iron in the
Ferric Chloride, what is formed is Ferric Benzoate, this is the precipitate seen inside the test
tube. The remaining chlorine ions then bond into ammonium to form ammonium chloride, the
liquid seen inside the test tube.

Benzoic Acid Identification Test Number 3.2:Diagram: Ammonium Benzoate and Ferric Chloride
Reaction

The tests that has been conducted was done to determine if benzoic acid is truly present
in the reactions and formation of products. Benzoic acids typically yield Benzene rings and
carbon dioxide due to the presence of carboxyl group in the compound. This is prevalent in the
first two test that is conducted. The third test involves the formation of a carboxylic acid salt in
the form of a benzoate, this is the Ammonium Benzoate formed inside the test tube. Once the
ferric chloride is added, another carboxylic acid salt will be formed in the form of Ferric
Benzoate. The reactions that occurred shows the presence of an aromatic compound with a
carboxyl group attached has been used for this reactions to occur.