Unknown Organic Compound= X

Test PH with litmus paper

Neutral (No change) Acidic (Litmus paper red)

Place 5 drops of X into test tube.

Add 10 drops of 1M H2SO4 and 2
drops of 0.1M K2Cr2O7
(potassium dichromate–orange)

No change Turns Green (oxidized) Carboxylic Acid

Check by adding 10
Silver Mirror Test Add 5 mL of 0.1M drops of X to 10
AgNO3 (Silver Nitrate) to test tube. drops of saturated
Add 2M NH3 (Ammonia) until initial =
NaHCO3 (sodium
cloudy precipitate of Ag2O just
bicarbonate)
dissolves. Add 1-2 drops of X into
There should be
mixture & place in water bath.
fizzing as CO2 gas is
No change Grey silver precipitate released

Place 15 drops of X into a test

tube & 15 drops of 2-butanol into
Aldehyde
a separate test tube. Add a small
piece of sodium metal to each
Methanal
test tube & compare the reactions Checked with the
Same Different Silver Mirror Test

Set up apparatus &

test the boiling point
Below 107°C Above 107°C
Secondary Alcohol
2-butanol
Already checked by
comparing sodium Primary Alcohol Primary Alcohol
Set up apparatus &
test to a known 1-propanol BP 97.4°C 1-butanol BP 118°C test the boiling point
sample of 2-butanol
in previous step.

Above 129.5°C Below 129.5°C

Add a small piece of

sodium metal
Carboxylic Acid Carboxylic Acid
Reaction No reaction
Propanoic Acid BP 141°C ethanoic acid BP 118°C

Alkyl Halide Test

A)Warm a mixture of 2 drops X & 5 drops
Tertiary Alcohol Alternatively use
ethanol with a little solid KOH (potassium
2-methyl-2-propanol expected density
hydroxide) B)cool mixture & add 2M HNO3
Check by comparing (nitric acid) until blue litmus paper turns red
sodium test to a indicating solution is acidic. Add 3 drops of
known sample of
26.23g/25mL 24.83g/25mL
AgNO3 (silver nitrate) solution.
2-methyl-2-propanol
No precipitate Precipitate

Carboxylic Acid Carboxylic Acid

ethanoic acid Propanoic Acid
Ketone Halo Alkane
Propanone dichloromethane
Check by comparing Check by comparing
density to expected density to expected
density of 0.7850g/L density of 1.32g/L

Mark Riley 3107631608 Organic Chemistry Experimental Design & Practical Test