QUALITATIVE TESTS FOR ELEMENTS IN ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

The predominant elements found in organic compounds are compound are carbon and hydrogen.
The next common elements are oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and the halogens (chlorine,
bromine, and iodine); while the less common ones are arsenic, antimony, mercury, and other metals.
Carbon and hydrogen are detected qualitatively by heating a mixture of the given substance with
dry copper (II) oxide in a glass tube. The organic substance is oxidized forming carbon dioxide and water.
The presence of carbon dioxide is indicated by the formation of a white precipitate of calcium carbonate
when gaseous products are passed through a solution of lime water. The presence of hydrogen is indicated
by the formation of droplets of water in the cool end of the tube.
The presence of oxygen may be determined either with the use of ferrox paper or the compound
iron (III) hexathiocyanoferrate (III). Ferrox paper is prepared by soaking paper in methanol containing
equal amounts of ferric chloride and ammonium thiocyanate. In the presence of oxygen-containing
compounds, the complex FeCNS+++ gives a deep red colored solution as it is distributed between the filter
paper and the test compound. Solutions of compounds which do not contain oxygen remain colorless. On
the other hand, iron (III) ammonium sulfate and potassium thiocyanate together react to form iron (III)
hexathiocyanoferrate (III). This compound dissolves in the presence of oxygen-containing compounds to
give a red to reddish-purple color. The reaction is shown below:

2Fe (NH4) (SO4)2 + KSCN Fe [Fe (SCN) 6] + 3KSO4 +

(NH
Iron )2SO4 sulfate
(III) 4ammonium Potassium thiocyanate Iron (III) hexathiocyanoferrate (III)

The detection of nitrogen, halogens, and sulfur is made difficult by the non-polar nature of
organic compounds since they do not ionize in solution to give ions of these elements. For this reason, it
is necessary to convert these elements into inorganic ions before making qualitative tests. The conversion
is done through fusion with metallic sodium, which decomposes the organic compound, and soluble salts
of the above elements are formed. The reaction is presented by the equation:

fusion
Organic compound [C] [H] [O] [N] [X] [S] + Na NaCN, NaOH, NaX, and
Na2S
Note: X represents any of the halogens

The resulting ionic compounds are then tested qualitatively for the presence of nitrogen, sulfur,
and the halogens.
Nitrogen is usually detected by the formation of Prussian blue after the sodium fusion.
Nitrogen in cyanide form is converted to sodium ferricyanide, which produces Prussian blue (ferric
ferricyanide, Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 with ferric chloride in acid solution. If the nitrogen in the given substance is
in the form of amino nitrogen (-NH 2), heating with soda lime (a mixture of fused NaOH and CaO) will
liberate ammonia gas, which is tested with moist red litmus paper.
The halogens are detected by the Beilstein test. An organic halogen compound imparts a green
color to the flame when burned upon the surface of a copper wire. The copper oxide formed from the
copper wire reacts with the halogens to form the cuprous halide, which burns with a green flame. Another
test for the halogens is based on the formation of an insoluble silver halide upon treatment with silver
nitrate solution in the presence of dilute nitric acid. It is necessary to remove cyanide and sulfide ions by
boiling the original test solution with dilute nitric acid; otherwise, these ions form precipitates, which
interfere with the detection of the halogens (silver cyanide is white and silver sulfide is black). The silver
halide gives a white to yellow color.
The presence of sulfur is detected by the production of brownish-black lead sulfide when the test
compound is treated with led acetate in the presence of acetic acid. Acetic acid prevents the formation of
other insoluble lead salts. With sodium nitroprusside, the sulfide ion produces a red-violet, which fades
somewhat readily, it being a delicate one.
In cases where there are strong evidences for the organic nature of substance, qualitative tests are
done only for elements other than carbon and hydrogen.

Test Compounds Apparatus/Materials Reagents

Glucose Ignition tube Lime water
Acetone Cork cork borer NaOH-CaO (2:1 solid mixture)
Benzene Bent glass tubing 5% lead acetate
Ethyl alcohol Iron clamp 1% AgNO3
Gasoline Iron stand 5% HNO3
Urea Bunsen burner 10% NaOH
Chloroform Small test tubes KSCN
Monochloroacetic acid Small cork stopper Fe(NH4) (SO4)2
5% albumin (freshly prepared) Filter paper
Hexane Test tube holder
Toluene Glass rod
Butanol Red litmus paper
Naphthalene Water bath (beaker)
Benzoic acid copper wire

PROCEDURE

1. Test for carbon and hydrogen (for demonstration)

a. Mix thoroughly 4 grams of CuO and 2 grams of glucose. Place in a dry ignition tube.
b. Fit a cork with a bent glass tubing to the ignition tube .dip the end of the glass tubing in 2mL of a
clear lime water in a test tube.
c. Clamp the ignition tube and heat it over a moderate flame. Observe what happens to the lime
water. Compare it with the original lime water.
2. Test for Nitrogen (Soda-Lime Test for Amide Nitrogen)
a. Place a pinch of urea and a small amount of soda lime in a dry test tube. Heat it over a moderate
flame and briefly note the odor of the vapors formed. Then immediately expose to the vapors a
piece of wet red litmus paper attached to one end of the glass rod. Note the change in color of the
litmus paper
3. Test for Halogens
a. Beilstein Test
i. .make a small loop on one end of a copper wire and heat the loop in the Bunsen flame
until no more color is imparted on the flame. Cool the wire and dip it in chloroform. Heat
again in the Bunsen Flame. Observe and record the color of the flame.
b. Silver Nitrate Test
 i. To 1mL of 1% Monochloroacetic acid (CAUTION: HANDLE WITH CARE; VERY
CORROSIVE) add 1-2 drops of 5% nitric acid and boil gently for a few minutes. Add
drops of 1% silver nitrate solution. Observe and record what happens to the solution.

4. Test for Oxygen (Ferrox Test)

a. In a dry test tube, carefully grind together with a stirring rod a crystal of Fe(NH4) (SO4)2 and
KSCN. Iron (III) hexathiocyanoferrate (III) will adhere to the stirring rod as colored
mass.
b. In another test tube, dissolve 3 drops of butanol in 1 mL toluene.
c. Stir the solution with the stirring rod holding the iron (III) hexathiocyanoferrate (III).
Record your result.
d. Wash and dry the stirring rod, then repeat steps a to c, using hexane as test sample.
e. Repeat d, but use 30 mg of the solid samples naphthalene and benzoic acid, one after the
other. Record results.
5. Test for Sulfur (Lead Acetate Test)
a. To 1 mL of 5% albumin a test tube, add 5 drops of 10% NaOH and 2 drops of 5% lead
acetate. Boil the mixture in a water bath. Observe what happens to the solution.
Name: _______________________________________ Rating: ________________________
Course and Year: ______________________________ Date:
__________________________
Group No: ____________________________________ Instructor: ______________________

Experiment No. 2

QUALITATIVE TEST FOR ELEMENTS IN ORGANIC COPOUNDS

I. OBSERVATION AND RESULTS

Element Tested Name of Test/s Test Compound Observations

1. Carbon and Carbon&Hydrogen Test Glucose The three test
Hydrogen Benzene
Ethyl alcohol tube was dropped

by benzene, ethyl

alcohol land test

liquid ten times.I

t was seen that

different color
appeared.

Interference: It

described that the

bubbles formed is

the carbon and

the white precipate

 was hydrogen.
Urea While heating the
Urea,the
Compound is
evaporating until it
comes to very high
temperature. There's
a change in color to
lithmus paper as
well as the end of
stirring rod with
2. Nitrogen Soda-Lime Test
HCL chemical.

Interference: There
fore ,by exposing
lithmus paper and
HCL to the
evaporating
compound
Resulted topin kin
color.
3. Halogen a. BeilsteinTest Chloroform Ac lean and bent
copper wire is
heated in an on
luminous flame until
it ceases to impart
green flame.It is
then dip inorganic
halide
Interference: A
visible blue green
flame indicating the
formation of volatile
cupric halide.
b. Silver Silver Nitrate Whileboiling, the
Nitrate Test Nitric acid test solution together
Test Silver nitrate with dilute nitric
acid was separated
forming a color
black and after three
minute sit was
boiled again with
silver nitrate. The
precipation formed
by different colors.
Interference:
Ingeneral,we came
up from
Color alight yellow
color and we
identified that color
 as bromine.
Benzene Ethyl The three test tube
alcohol was dropped by
benzene, ethyl
alcohol and test
liquid ten times.It
was seen
That different color
appeared.
Interference:
4. Oxygen FerroxTest
Therefore,the ferrox
paper dropped by
benzene resulted
was color lessor
transparent.For ethyl
alcohol was deep red
and for test liquid it
formed blue violet
color.
Acedic acid Lead The test solution
acetic used for these was
added by diluted
acetic acid together
with lead acetic
solution. A color
was formed.
5. Sulfur Lead Acetate Test
Interference: The
color responsible for
the formation of
combining dulite
acetic acid and lead
acetate was color
black.

II. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

(Do the test samples contain the elements tested for?)

1. Test for Carbon and Hydrogen

-By the oxidation of organic compound, elements are detected in a glass tube. Therefore, carbon
wa sdetected because it forms a white color by the present of line water. For hydrogen,droplets
can be see

2. Test for Nitrogen

-All compounds contain amino nitrogen are liberated by ammonia when it was expose to heat together
with soda lime. In addition ,the used of HCL or litmus paper detects the presence of ammonia.
 3. Test for Halogen- Generally, the addition of silver nitrate into an acidified solution forms a
precipitation to silver halide which white to yellow color but, it darkens when it was exposed to
light. The present of nitrogen and sulfur results in color white and black for silver sulfide.

4. Test for Oxygen

The used off errox paper during the test was used to test the prescence of oxygen. Non oxygen
containing compounds remain colorless like benzene. The deep red results showed that the
prescence of oxygen was distributing itself by complexion.

5. Test for Sulfur

The black precipitate is an indication of by the formation of lead sulfide. In this test, the used of
acetic acid prevent the color formation of other insoluble salts.

III. QUESTIONS:

1. What chemical reactions are involved in the test for carbon and hydrogen?
-Carbon and Hydrogen are detected by heating glucose with copper(I)oxide strongly, where
carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide and hydrogen to water. The presence of carbon dioxide is
indicated by the formation of white precipitate of calcium carbonate when the gaseous products
are passed through the solution of lime water.The presence of hydrogen was indicated by the
droplets for med in the upper part of thet ube.

2. What is the role of CuO in the reaction?

-Copper(II)oxide is the oxidizing agent that oxidizes the organic compound to form carbon dioxide and
water.

3. Write the role of CuO in the reaction?

-Copper(II)oxide is the oxidizing agent that oxidizes the organic compound to form carbon dioxide and
water.

4. What chemical reactions are involved in the soda-lime test?

-The chemical reaction involved n the soda-lime test is an exothermic reaction a sit releases energy during
the reaction. Soda lime also involves acid base reaction and it also absorbs carbon dioxide. The given
substance is mixed with double the amount of soda-lime and heated in a test tube. The vapors of ammonia
indicate the presence of nitrogen. Ammonia is a basic compound ,so it turns red litmus paper to blue.
5. What compounds are responsible for the results in the:
a. Beilstein Test? -Chloroform

b. Silver Nitrate Test?- silver Nitrate

c. Lead acetate? Lead Acetate