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Practical 7 - FUNCTIONAL GROUP CLASSIFICATION TESTS

The document discusses tests to identify functional groups present in organic compounds. It describes the chromic acid test to detect primary and secondary alcohols, the sodium metal test to detect alcohols through hydrogen gas evolution, and the ester test to detect alcohols through formation of esters and their fruity smell. Safety precautions are also noted for the chromic acid test.

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Afeefuddin Shaikh
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19 views4 pages

Practical 7 - FUNCTIONAL GROUP CLASSIFICATION TESTS

The document discusses tests to identify functional groups present in organic compounds. It describes the chromic acid test to detect primary and secondary alcohols, the sodium metal test to detect alcohols through hydrogen gas evolution, and the ester test to detect alcohols through formation of esters and their fruity smell. Safety precautions are also noted for the chromic acid test.

Uploaded by

Afeefuddin Shaikh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FUNCTIONAL GROUP CLASSIFICATION TESTS

After determining the physical constants, elemental analysis, and solubility, the next step in identifying
an unknown is to determine which functional groups are present. The classic scheme involves
performing a number of chemical tests on a substance, each of which is specific for a type of functional
group. These tests are designed so that the observation of a color change or the formation of a precipitate
indicates the presence of a particular functional group. The results of these tests usually allow the
assignment of the unknown to a structural class such as alkene, aldehyde, ketone, or ester, for example.

Following are commonly found functional groups in organic compounds.

Alcohols

Aldehydes

Alkenes

Alkyl halides

Alkynes

Amides

Aromatic hydrocarbons

Aryl halides

Esters

Ketones

Nitriles

Nitro compounds

Carboxylic acids

Phenols

Amines
ALCOHOLS

Alcohols are compounds in which a hydrogen of an alkane has been replaced by an OH group. Alcohols are
classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary, depending on whether the OH group is bonded to a primary,
secondary, or tertiary carbon—the same way alkyl halides are classified.

Classification Tests

The tests for the presence of a hydroxy group not only detect this functionality but may also indicate
whether it is attached to a primary, secondary, or tertiary carbon atom.

A. Chromic Acid Test

Chromic acid reagent oxidizes primary and secondary alcohols; it gives no visible reaction with tertiary
alcohols respectively under the test conditions. A distinctive color change from the orange-red of Cr6+
to the green of Cr3+ occurs as oxidation of the organic substrate proceeds.

SAFTEY ALERT

When preparing and handling solutions of chromic acid, wear latex gloves to keep the acids from
contacting your skin. Chromic acid causes unsightly stains on your hands for several days and may
cause severe chemical burns.

Experimental Procedure

Dissolve 1 drop of a liquid or about 10 mg of a solid alcohol or carbonyl compound in 1 mL of reagent-


grade acetone. Add 1 drop of the acidic chromic anhydride reagent to the acetone solution and shake
the tube to mix the contents. A positive reaction is indicated by disappearance of the orange color of
the reagent and the formation of a green or blue-green precipitate or emulsion.

B. Sodium metal Test

Alcohols react with active metals like sodium and liberate hydrogen gas that can be observed in the
form of effervescence

Experimental Procedure

Take about 1 ml of the given liquid in a dry test tube, add small amount of anhydrous calcium sulphate
and shake well to remove water. Filter the liquid into another clean dry test tube and add a small piece
of sodium metal. Brisk effervescence is produced. Brisk effervescence is due to the evolution of
hydrogen gas indicating the presence of alcoholic group

C. Ester Test

Alcohols react with carboxylic acids to form fruity smelling compounds called esters. The reaction
between alcohol and carboxylic acid is called esterification and is catalysed by an acid such as
concentrated sulphuric acid.

Experimental Procedure

Take about 1 ml of the give liquid in a clean dry test tube, add about 1 ml glacial acetic acid and 2-3
drops of conc. sulphuric acid. Warm the mixture on a water bath for about 10 minutes. Pour it into about
20 ml of cold water taken in a beaker and smell. A fruity smell is produced confirming presence of
alcoholic group.
Experiment ____________

To identify the Functional Group present in given organic compound.

Equation
Test Procedure Observation Inference

Result:

The given organic compound contains _______________________________ as functional group.

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