Detection of Carbon and Hydrogen

Detection of Elements in Organic
Compunds
DETECTION OF CARBON AND HYDROGEN

Carbon must be present in a compound under
examination if it is definitely known to be an organic
compound (Fig. 38.1). Similarly, hydrogen too, is
generally present. Both these elements can be tested
together. A small quantity of the dry and powdered
substance is mixed with freshly ignited cupric oxide. The
mixture is heated in a well-dried hard glass test-tube
provided with a delivery tube having a bulb at one end.
The other) end of the tube is dipping under lime water
taken in another test tube. Carbon present in the
compounds is oxidised to carbon dioxide which turns lime
water milky.
The hydrogen present in the compound is oxidised to
water which condenses on the cooler parts of the test-
tube or in the bulb of delivery tube. The drops turn white
anhydrous copper sulphate placed in the bulb into blue.
If the compound to be analysed is a volatile liquid or a

gas, then the vapour of the liquid or the gas itself is
passed through heated copper oxide and the liberated
gases are tested for carbon dioxide and water vapours.
DETECTION OF NITROGEN
Nitrogen in an organic compound is detected by the
following tests:
(i) Sodalime Time
A pinch of an organic substance is heated strongly with

sodalime (NaOH + CaO) in a test tube. The evolution of
ammonia gives the indication of nitrogen.
limitation. A large number of organic compounds such a
nitro and diazo compounds do not liberate ammonia
under these conditions.
(ii) Lassaigne’s Test
This test is a confirmatory test for nitrogen in organic

compounds. This test involves two steps:
(a) Preparation of Lassaigne’s extract. A small piece

of a sodium metal is heated gently in a fusion tube till it
melts to a shining globule. At this stage, a small amount
of substance is added and the tube is heated strongly.
The red hot tube is plunged into distilled water contained
in a china dish. The contents are boiled for some time,
cooled and then filtered. The filterate is known as sodium
extract or Lassaigne ‘s extract.
(b) Test for nitrogen. The Lassaigne’s-extract is usually

alkaline. If not, it may be made alkaline by the addition of
a few drops of a dilute solution of sodium hydroxide. To a
part of sodium extract a small amount of a freshly
prepared ferrous sulphate solution is added and the
contents are warmed. A few drops of ferric chloride
solution are then added to the contents and the resulting
solution is acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid. The
appearance of a prussian blue colouration confirms the
presence of nitrogen in the organic compound. The
chemical reactions involved are as follows:
If the organic compound contains both nitrogen and
sulphur, sodium sulphocyanide may be formed during
fusion. This reacts with ferric ions to form ferric
sulphocyanide which gives a blood red colouration.
DETECTION OF SULPHUR
The presence of sulphur in the organic compound can be
detected by the following tests:
(i) Oxidation Test
The organic compound is fused with a mixture of

potassium nitrate and sodium carbonate. Sulphur, if
present, gets oxidised to sodium sulphate.
The fused mass is extracted with water, the contents are
boiled and filtered. The filtrate contains sodium sulphate.
The filtrate is acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid and a
solution of barium chloride is added. Formation of a white
precipitate indicates the presence of sulphur.
Lassaigne’s extract is prepared as described in the case

of nitrogen. The extract contains sodium sulphide formed
by the reaction between sulphur (present in the
compound) and sodium.
2Na + S à Na2S
The Lassaigne’s extract is divided into two parts and

following tests are performed:
(a) Lead acetate test. One part of the extract is

acidified with acetic acid and then lead acetate solution is
added. Formation of a black precipitate confirms the
presence of sulphur in the organic compound.
(b) Sodium nitroprusside test. A few drops of sodium

nitroprusside solution are added to another part of the
Lassaigne’s extract. The appearance of purple colouration
confirms the presence of sulphur:
DETECTION OF HALOGENS
The presence of halogens in the organic compound is
detected by the following tests:
(i) Beilstein’s Test
A copper wire flattened at one end is heated in the

oxidising flame of Bunsen burner. The heating is
continued till it does not impart blue colour to flame. The
hot end of copper wire is now touched with the organic
substance and is once again kept in flame. The
reappearance of green or blue colour indicates the
presence of halogens in the organic compound.
Limitations. (a) Substances such as urea,

thiourea, etc., do not contain halogens, but give this test.
(b) It does not tell as to which halogen is present in the

organic compound.
A small amount of the compound is fused with metallic

sodium as described earlier. The halogen present in the
compound combines with sodium to form sodium halide
which passes into the sodium extract.
A part of the Lassaigne’s extract is boiled with dilute nitric
acid to expel all the gases if evolved. The silver nitrate
solution is added to the resulting solution.
If any of the halogen is present, a precipitate is formed.
(a) A white precipitate soluble in ammonium hydroxide

solution indicates the presence of chlorine in the organic
compound.
(b) A dull yellow precipitate partially soluble in

ammonium hydroxide solution indicates the presence of
bromine in the organic compound.
(c) A bright yellow precipitate, completely insoluble in

ammonium hydroxide solution indicates the presence of
iodine in the organic compound.
Function of nitric acid. In case, nitrogen and sulphur
are present along with the halogens in the organic
compound, the Lassaigne’s extract contains sodium
sulphide (Na2S) and sodium cyanide (NaCN) along with
sodium halide. Nitric acid decomposes sodium cyanide
and sodium sulphide which otherwise form precipitate
with silver nitrate and thus, interfere with the test.
(iii) Special Test For Bromine and Iodine
Acidify the Lassaigne’s extract with nitric acid and add a

few drops of freshly prepared chlorine water. Free Br2 and
I2 will be evolved. Shake this solution with carbon
disulphide or carbon tetrachloride. The liberated halogens
(Br2 or I2) will dissolve in it giving as orange or brown
colour for bromine and violet colour for iodine
DETECTION OF PHOSPHORUS
A very few organic compounds contain phosphorus. Its
presence is detected by fusing the compound with an
oxidizing mixture of sodium carbonate and potassium
nitrate or with sodium peroxide alone when an alkali
phosphate is formed. The fused mass is extracted with
water and filtered. The filtrate containing sodium
phosphate is heated with cone. HNO 3 and an excess of
ammonium molybdate solution is added. A yellow ppt. or
colouration if formed if phosphorus is present. The yellow
precipitate is ammonium phosphomolybdate,
(NH4)3[PMo12O40] or (NH4) 3PO4.12 MoO3.

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Detection of Elements in Organic

DETECTION OF CARBON AND HYDROGEN

If the compound to be analysed is a volatile liquid or a

(i) Sodalime Time

A pinch of an organic substance is heated strongly with

(ii) Lassaigne’s Test

This test is a confirmatory test for nitrogen in organic

(a) Preparation of Lassaigne’s extract. A small piece

(b) Test for nitrogen. The Lassaigne’s-extract is usually

(i) Oxidation Test

The organic compound is fused with a mixture of

(ii) Lassaigne’s Test

Lassaigne’s extract is prepared as described in the case

The Lassaigne’s extract is divided into two parts and

(a) Lead acetate test. One part of the extract is

(b) Sodium nitroprusside test. A few drops of sodium

(i) Beilstein’s Test

A copper wire flattened at one end is heated in the

Limitations. (a) Substances such as urea,

(b) It does not tell as to which halogen is present in the

(ii) Lassaigne’s Test

A small amount of the compound is fused with metallic

If any of the halogen is present, a precipitate is formed.

(a) A white precipitate soluble in ammonium hydroxide

(b) A dull yellow precipitate partially soluble in

(c) A bright yellow precipitate, completely insoluble in

(iii) Special Test For Bromine and Iodine

Acidify the Lassaigne’s extract with nitric acid and add a

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