Identification and Synthesis of Unknown Compound 61N

By Timothy F Silvers Jr. Group Members: Deirdre Kragh, Bobby Arnold, Kaitlin Lewis

Academic Honesty Pledge I pledge that this report, the data in it, and interpretations are my work, except where referenced. I have neither obtained nor given aid on this assignment outside of data discussions with my lab team. Signed_________________________________________

Abstract: For this experiment, an unknown white compound was discovered in the back of a storage facility of the University Chemistry Department (UCD). To identify the compound, solubility, conductivity, relative pH, cation, and anion tests were used. These tests brought us to the conclusion that the chemical was sodium acetate. A more accurate pH test, a buffer test, and another solubility test with AgNO3 were used to verify the identity. The synthesis of sodium acetate proved to be unsuccessful. Upon synthesizing the compound, the percent yield was 72.45%, but was much more basic than what was expected, meaning the substance was not pure sodium acetate. Introduction: Identification and synthesis of unknown compounds is quite useful. For example, at Emory University School of Medicine scientists identified a compound that mimics one of the brain s own growth factors that can protect brain cells against damage [2]. The synthesis of Isoamyl Acetate is done to create the fragrance of a banana without using an actual banana. [3] The process and results for the identification and synthesis of the unknown compound are explained below. Experimental: Possible Compounds for Unknown KNO3 K2SO4 HCl CaCO3 NaC2H3O2 AgNO3 CaCl2 Na2CO3 KCl Ca(NO3)2 NH4Cl MgSO4 MgCl2 (NH4)2SO4 K2CO3

Solubility Test A cell well was used to create a 1 ml solution with 0.050 g of the unknown compound and deionized water to test for solubility. Conductivity/pH Test A 50 ml beaker was used to create a 20 ml solution with 0.100 g of the unknown compound and deionized water. A conductivity probe was used to determine the conductivity. Litmus paper was used to test the pH of the solution. Cation/Anion Tests Cloride Anion Test- 1 ml of the unknown, 1 ml of 6 molar HNO3, and 1 ml of AgNO3 solution were placed into a test tube and it was recorded whether or not a white precipitate formed.

Sulfate Anion Test- 1 ml of the unknown, 1 ml of 6 molar HCl, and 1 ml of BaCl2 solution were placed into a test tube and it was recorded whether or not a white precipitate formed. Carbonate Anion Test- 1 ml of the unknown was placed in a test tube and 6 molar HCl was added drop by drop. It was recorded after each drop whether or not effervescing occurred in the test tube. Cation Flame Test- A sample of the unknown was placed on a nichrome wire and held over a Bunsen flame. The color of the flame was recorded to determine the presence of any cations. Buffer/pH Test 20 ml of DI water was mixed with 0.200 g of the unknown in a 50 ml beaker. The pH was tested with the pH probe. This was repeated with 0.200 g of NaC2H3O2. 20 ml of acetic acid was mixed with 20 ml of 1 molar sodium acetate in a 50 ml beaker, and mix 20ml of acetic acid and 20 ml of solution with the unknown 0.164g. Test the pH. Add 5 drops of 1 molar HCl and test the pH. Repeat 3 times. Second Solubility Test Combine unknown compound (0.06 g) with AgNO3 (3 mL) to determine if some sort of precipitate forms. According to the solubility rules acetates of Ag+ are moderately soluble. Repeat with sodium acetate and compare the results. Synthesis of Unknown Compound 0.732 mL of 1 molar acetic acid was mixed with 1.024 g NaHCO3 in a 200 mL beaker to form an aqueous solution of sodium acetate. This amount was doubled. The beaker was set on a hot plate and the solution was boiled until the water had evaporated fully, leaving a solid compound in the beaker. The mass of the compound was determined using a scale, and the percent yield was calculated. The flame test and the second solubility test were performed as listed above. The PH was tested using a PH probe and compared to the results of the PH level of sodium acetate found earlier in the experiment. Results/Discussion: Solubility Test Compound Unknown (NH4)2SO4 NH4Cl Ca(NO3)2 Solubility Soluble Soluble Soluble Soluble Conductivity ( S/cm) 4920 20 8990 5 4590 20 pH 7.5 5 5 Compound K2SO4 K2CO3 NaC2H3O2 Na2CO3 Solubility Soluble Soluble Soluble Soluble Conductivity ( S/cm) 6230 5 8560 10 4730 10 7680 10 pH 4.5 11 7 11

MgCl2 MgSO4 KCl KNO3

Soluble Soluble Soluble Soluble

8680 20 4610 20 7888 10 6146 2

8 5 -

NaCl Na2SO4 CaCO3 CaCl2

Soluble Soluble Not soluble Not soluble

9000 10 -

5 -

The solubility test eliminated CaCO3 and CaCl2. The conductivity test and pH test showed that only one chemical compound was close to the properties of the unknown compound, and that would be sodium acetate. Cation/Anion Tests y Anions y Chloride: No precipitate formed (AgCl), therefore there is no chloride anion. y Sulfate: No precipitate formed (BaSO4), therefore there is no sulfate anion. y Cation: The flame test revealed that sodium was present in the compound because there was an orange flame produced. These two tests, along with the conductivity/pH tests, concluded that the unknown compound was NaC2H3O2. Both sets of tests were conducted at the same time, so when the cation/anion test was complete, and both tests showed sodium acetate as the only match, no further conductivity tests were conducted. Buffer/pH Test The pH of the unknown was found to be 6.35 and the pH of NaC2H3O2 was found to be 6.33. Buffer Test Drops of 1M HCl 0 5 10 15 Unknown (pH) 3.72 3.70 3.63 3.58 NaC2H3O2 (pH) 3.70 3.66 3.61 3.58

The buffer test concluded that both sodium acetate and the unknown compound not only both form buffers with acetic acid, but that they have the same effectiveness as buffers (pH decreasing at the same approximate rate).

Second Solubility Test Both reactions yielded a substance that was clear but contained white gelatinous globs in the test tube. The AgNO3 started out as a clear liquid. Because both substances reacted the same way, at the least they must have a similar chemical makeup.

Synthesis of Unknown Compound Upon synthesizing the compound, the percent yield was 72.45%. The pH turned out to be 10.32, while the earlier pH was 6.78, meaning that the substance was not just sodium acetate. The most reasonable explanation would be that the baking soda had not all reacted with the acetic acid. The synthesis was attempted again, but upon boiling the water away, the initially white compound started browning, then burning. The experiment was stopped and was found to be inconclusive. Conclusion: Every test that was performed showed that the unknown compound was either sodium acetate or that sodium acetate was one of the possible compounds. With the conductivity test, cation test, anion test, and the buffer test, it was obvious that the only compound the unknown could have been was sodium acetate. The attempt at synthesizing the compound failed, and it was not possible to calculate the actual yield of sodium acetate because the yield was not just sodium acetate. For further experimentation, a different method of synthesizing the compound could be used to produce more effective results. References: Sodium acetate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_acetate(Accessed October 27th 2011). [1]

Quinn Eastman. New Class of Brain-Protecting Drugs Emerging. http://shared.web.emory.edu/e mory/news/releases/2010/01/new-class-of-brain-protecting-drugs-emerging.html (Accessed November 25th 2011). [2]

Going Bananas Over Isoamyl Acetate. http://courses.chem.psu.edu/chem.36/SynFa06Web/Exp t87.pdf (Accessed November 25th 2011) [3]