CHM142L Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory

3rd Quarter SY 2014-2015

Preparation and Characterization of Hydrocarbons

Miranda, Marilyn1, Ayson, Jose Paolo, L2
Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mapua Institute of Technology; 2Student (s),CH142L/A31, School of Chemical Engineering,
Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mapua Institute of Technology
1

ABSTRACT
The objectives of this experiment are to differentiate alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons through their
properties, to visualize the characteristic reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons, and to prepare
acetylene gas. Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms only. They are generally classified as
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic. Hydrocarbons may be differentiated in terms of their physical and chemical properties.
In the experiment, we performed certain tests to distinguish hydrocarbons. Flammability test was the first test we performed
for the test compounds namely cyclohexane, cyclohexene and benzene. The second test was solubility which all hydrocarbons
are insoluble in water. We observe the reaction of the test compounds in bromination, oxidation and sulphuric acid test.
Preparation and test of properties of acetylene was also performed in the experiement. Unsaturated compounds are
compounds that have carbon-carbon multiple bonds and produce soot when ignited. Also, hydrocarbons are insoluble in water
since they are nonpolar compounds and they cannot form hydrogen bonds. Acetylene is a linear molecule, all four atoms lying
along a straight line. Concepts and relationship of hydrocarbons were learned and observed in this experiment.
Keywords: hydrocarbons, alkanes, alkenes, aromatic, saturated, unsaturated, bromination, oxidation, acetylene, flammability

INTRODUCTION
The purposes of this experiment are to differentiate
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons
through their properties, to visualize the characteristic
reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic
hydrocarbons, and to prepare acetylene gas.
Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain carbon and
hydrogen atoms only. They are generally classified as
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic. Hydrocarbons
may be differentiated in terms of their physical and
chemical properties. Among the more useful physical
properties that distinguish hydrocarbons are flammability
and solubility. They are extremely important to our society
because so many products are derived from them: fuels,
fabrics, plastics, antifreezes, anaesthetics, insecticides,
to name a few. The major source of aliphatic
hydrocarbons is petroleum, an extremely complex
mixture of compounds. Each of us, on the average, uses
several tons of petroleum each year (directly or
indirectly), mostly for fuel. Aromatic hydrocarbons are
mainly obtained from coal, although small amounts are
also obtained from petroleum.
The physical properties of alkenes and alkynes are
generally similar to those of alkanes or cycloalkanes with
equal numbers of carbon atoms. Alkynes have higher

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boiling points than alkanes or alkenes, because the

electric field of an alkyne, with its increased number of
weakly held electrons, is more easily distorted,
producing stronger attractive forces between molecules.
Aromatic compounds are cyclic compounds in which all
ring atoms participate in a network of pi bonds, resulting
in unusual stability. They are less reactive than alkenes,
making them useful industrial solvents for nonpolar
compounds. Aromatic compounds, originally named
because of their fragrant properties, are unsaturated
hydrocarbon ring structures that exhibit special
properties, including unusual stability, due to their
aromaticity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was a class performance, we first test
the flammability of the test compounds namely
cyclohexane, cyclohexene and benzene. Two drops of
the test compounds was place in an evaporating dish.
The compounds were ignited using a match as shown in
figure 1. The observations were noted.
FIGURE 1: IGNITING THE COMPOUNDS

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CHM142L Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory

3rd Quarter SY 2014-2015

procedure in bromination but this time instead of bromine

in CCl4 we added 1.0 M solution of potassium
permanganate. The change was observed and recorded.
The last part for the reactions of hydrocarbons was
sulphuric acid test; with the same procedure we added
0.50 ml concentrated sulphuric acid. The changes was
observed and recorded.
FIGURE 3: PREPARATION OF ACETYLENE

The second property was solubility, two drops of each of

the test compound was placed in separate micro test
tubes. 1 ml of distilled water and was shake. The
observations were recorded.
FIGURE 2: TEST FOR SOLUBILITY

After the test for the physical properties, the second part
of the experiment was the reactions of alkane, alkene,
and aromatic hydrocarbons. The first part was
bromination, 2 drops of each of the test compounds was
placed in separate micro test tubes. 1.0 M bromine in
CCl4 was added drop by drop and the change was
observed. The observations were recorded. The second
part was oxidation, the procedure is the same as the

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The last part of the experiment was the preparation and

properties of Acetylene. For the preparation, as shown in
figure 3, 2 g of calcium carbide was place inside an 8-in
test tube. The test tube was clamped in an iron stand. 10
ml of distilled water was poured into the tube then a cork
with rubber tubing was used to stop up the test tube. The
rubber was extending into the water trough containing
water and 5 micro test tube submerged in water. The
acetylene gas was collected by the instructor using the
downward water displacement method. For the
properties, Ammoniacal silver nitrate test was first
performed. 1 ml of freshly prepared ammoniacal silver
nitrate was carefully transferred in the test tube
containing acetylene gas. The reaction was observed and
recorded. The second test was bromination, with the
same procedure we added 1.0 bromine in CCl4 solution
in the test tube containing the acetylene gas. The
reaction was observed and recorded. The last test was

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oxidation, this time KMnO4 was added to the test tube

containing acetylene gas. The reaction was observed and
recorded.
DISCUSSIONS AND RESULTS

Bromination

No reaction

Lighter

No
reaction

Oxidation

No reaction

With brown
precipitate
decolourization

No
reaction

Reaction with
conc. H2SO4

No reaction

With reaction

No
reaction

Table 1: Physical Properties of Alkane, Alkene, and

Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

COMPOUND

Flammability

OBSERVATIONS
Cyclohexane Cyclohexene
Yellow
flame, no
Yellow
soot
flame, with
soot

Benzene
Yellow
flame,
more soot

Bromination is done by alkenes when heated or in a

presence of light via a mechanism know as free-radical
substitution. Aromatic hydrocarbons which are
unsaturated do not undergo addition reactions that will
result it stability or no reaction will occur.
Table 3: Properties of Acetylene

Solubility

Immiscible

Immiscible

Immiscible

Flammability test can distinguish saturated and saturated

compounds, alkene and aromatic compounds like
cyclohexene and benzene have both produce sooth since
alkene and aromatic are unsaturated compounds since
they carbon-carbon multiple bonds. Therefore,
compounds that produce soot or smoke are unsaturated
compounds while does do not or produce small amount
of soot are saturated compounds. Flammability can be
used to distinguish alkene and aromatic compounds
since they both produce sooth but in different amount.
Hydrocarbons are not soluble with water because they
are non-polar substrate and are not capable to form
hydrogen bonds with water due to lack of hydrogen
atoms connected to oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine. They
also lack electronegative compound.

Table 2: Reactions of Alkane, Alkene and Aromatic

Hydrocarbons.

COMPOUNDS

OBSERVATIONS
Cyclohexane

Cyclohexene

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REACTIONS

OBSERVATIONS

Ammoniacal Silver Nitrate

From colourless it turns to

dirty white.

Bromination

There was a smoke and its

colour turned into dark
orange.

Oxidation

Addition of KMnO4 turns it

into colour brown.

The alkynes are the third homologous series of organic

compounds of hydrogen and carbon, where there is at
least one triple-bond between the atoms in the
molecules. Acetylene is a linear molecule, all four atoms
lying along a straight line. This linear structure can only
be explained by the existence of sp hybridisation of the
orbitals of the carbon atoms of ethyne. Acetylene is
oxidised by a dilute aqueous solution of potassium
permanganate to form oxalic acid. Thus, if acetylene is
bubbled through a solution of potassium permanganate
the solution is decolourised. This is Baeyer's test for
unsaturated organic compounds.

Benzene

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CHM142L Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory

3rd Quarter SY 2014-2015

CONCLUSION
The objectives of this experiment are to differentiate
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons
through their properties, to visualize the characteristic
reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic
hydrocarbons, and to prepare acetylene gas. These
objectives were achieved during the experiment since we
are able to differentiate alkanes, alkenes and aromatic
compounds using their physical properties. We also
visualize the reactions of hydrocarbons. Lastly, we are
able to prepare and test the properties of acetylene gas. I
learned that unsaturated compounds are compounds that
have carbon-carbon multiple bonds and produce soot
when ignited. Also, hydrocarbons are insoluble in water
since they are nonpolar compounds and they cannot form
hydrogen bonds. Acetylene is a linear molecule, all four
atoms lying along a straight line. This linear structure can
only be explained by the existence of sp hybridisation of
the orbitals of the carbon atoms of ethyne. Therefore,
acetylene is an alkyne. I have learned many things about
the properties, reactions and relationships about
hydrocarbons. These concepts can be helpful in the
future for us chemical engineering students.
REFERENCES

Baluyot, J. Y., & De Castro, K. A. (n.d.).

Organic Chemistry Laboratory Manual
for Chemical Engineering Students.
Klein, D. (2012). Organic Chemsitry.
Massachusetts: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Yaws, C. L. (2005). Yaws' Handbook of
Physical Properties for Hydrocarbons
and Chemicals. Knovel.

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