DETECTION OF ETHYL ALCOHOL PRESENT IN GIVEN ORGANIC COMPOUND

Experiment No. 10: DETECTION OF ETHYL ALCOHOL PRESENT IN GIVEN ORGANIC COMPOUND

OBJECTIVE:

TO DETECT THE FOREIGN ELEMENT PRESENT IN GIVEN ORGANIC COMPOUND

APPARATUS REQUIRED

1. Watch glass
2. Tong
3. Burner
4. Porcelain basin
5. Beaker
6. Test tube

CHEMICALS REQUIRED

• Given organic sample
• Blue and red litmus paper
• Acetic acid
• H₂SO₄
• K₂Cr₂O₇
• NaOH

THEORY

Organic compounds are hydrocarbon and their derivatives. They are mainly made up of two parts- alkyl and functional group part. The functional group is defined as the atom or group of atoms that determines the characteristic properties of the organic compound. Some examples of functional groups are -OH, -CHO, -COOH, etc.

PROCEDURE

First of all, a preliminary test was performed. Then confirmatory test was done to identify the given organic compound.

OBSERVATION

1. Preliminary test:

a. Solubility: Soluble in water
b. Odour: Spiritious
c. Colour: Colourless
d. Litmus paper test: Neutral
e. Residue test :

Experiment	Observation	Inference
Residue/Evaporation test: A few drops of the solution were evaporated on the watch glass over the water bath.	No residue	May be ethyl aclohol

Confirmatory Test

Test of ethyl alcohol

Experiment	Observation	Inference
1. Esterification test: 2 ml of original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and 2 ml of glacial acetic acid solution was added to it. Then, 1 ml of conc. H2SO4 was added and then heated.	A fruity smell of ester was observed.	Presence of ethyl alcohol
2. Oxidation test: 2 ml of original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and 2 ml of potassium dichromate solution was added to it. Then, 1 ml of conc. H2SO4 was added and then heated gently.	The orange colour of the potassium dichromate solution turned to green.	Presence of ethyl alcohol.
3. Iodoform test: 2 ml of the original solution was taken in a clean and dry test tube and a few drops of iodine solution was added to it followed by NaOH solution dropwise till brown colour disappeared and warmed over the water bath at 70°C.	A yellow crystalline precipitate of iodoform was formed.	Presence of ethyl alcohol

Reactions involved

RESULT

Hence, ethyl alcohol was found in the given solution.

CONCLUSION

Hence, organic compounds can be tested using specific reagents.

PRECAUTION

1. Apparatus should be handled carefully.
2. The sample should be taken in small amounts.
3. Heating should be done carefully.

Structure: CH₃CH₂OH
IUPAC name: Ethanol
Common name: Ethyl alcohol