ALPHA

Journal in Organic Chemistry

Volume 3, Issue No. 6

Preliminary Examination and Solubility Class Identification of Organic Compounds

Tiongson, Stephanie Claire M.1

Rejano, Sander Clyde
Cruz, Kathlia D.2

ABSTRACT

Examination and analysis of unknown organic compounds is a fundamental in organic chemistry. However, no definite scheme and
procedure can be applied overall to these tests. This experiment aims to identify the solubility class of given organic compounds and to
identify an unknown compound and the elements present in it. The known compounds under study were butyl bromide, ethanol, sucrose,
butyraldehyde, ethanoic acid, methylamine, nitrophenol, diethyl ether, benzoic acid and propanone. The unknown compound was found
to be insoluble in water and soluble in 5% HCl which classifies it as an amine under class B. The unknown compound also gives a positive
result in the nitrogen test.

Keywords: solubility class, preliminary examination

INTRODUCTION

Examination and analysis of unknown organic compounds is a
fundamental in organic chemistry. However, no definite scheme
and procedure can be applied overall to these tests. The oldest
running method in identifying an unknown is a qualitative test. This
method involves taking note of the physical appearance of the
compound (solid or liquid), its smell as well as its color. Qualitative
analysis of organic compounds also deals with the identification of
physical constants, in which the boiling point and melting point of
compounds are identified. Preliminary tests are also done to
identify the solubility class of the compound and identify which
elements are present in a compound.
Elements present in an organic compound can be identified by
running an elemental analysis. Solubility classes, on the other
hand, can be identified into different classes which include Classes
S, Sn, Sa, Sb, B, A1, A2, N and X. Presented in table 1 is the solubility
class table that contains the functional groups present in each
class.
This experiment aims to categorize the solubility class of given
organic compounds and to classify an unknown compound and the
elements present in it.
EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
The known compounds under study were butyl bromide, ethanol,
sucrose, butyraldehyde, ethanoic acid, methylamine, nitrophenol,
diethyl ether, benzoic acid and propanone.
Part A. Examination of Known Compounds
The physical state of the compounds was noted (solid or liquid).
The color and odor were also taken into consideration. 1mL of the
test compound was placed inside a micro test tube. The solubility
of each compounds was first tested using distilled water. If the
compound was soluble in water, it was tested with ether and if
soluble in ether the basicity or acidity of the compound was
identified using litmus paper. Compounds insoluble in water were
tested using 5% HCl. If the compound was soluble in HCl, it was
then tested with 5% NaOH. If a compound was found soluble in
NaOH it was again tested using 5% NaHCO3 and if insoluble in
NaOH the compound was tested using concentrated sulfuric acid
to identify solubility class.

Part B. Identification of Unknown Compound

For the unknown, the physical state, color and odor was also noted.
The solubility class was identified following the scheme used in part
A. The elements present was also identified using elemental
analysis.

I. Sodium Fusion Test

15mL of the liquid sample was placed in a test tube containing
heated sodium metal. A sudden flash occurred indicating that the
Table 1. Solubility Class Table fusion was successful. The sample was cooled to room

1. Student, CM134L/A7, School of Chemical, Biological and Material Engineering and Science, Mapua University (stiongson81@gmail.com)
2. Professor, CM134L/A7, School of Chemical, Biological and Material Engineering and Science, Mapua University (kadecastro@mapua.edu.ph)
temperature and 1mL of ethanol was added. The mixture was Benzoic acid Solid White Slightly sour
transferred to a beaker with 10mL of distilled water by breaking the Propanone Liquid Light orange Acetone-like
test tube and it was mixed and filtered. Unknown #7 Liquid Light yellow Fishy odor
Table 2. Physical Test Results
II. Test for Sulfur
Conducting preliminary tests helps in saving time and lessening
Lead acetate test: The fused sample was tested for traces of sulfur the volume of reagents used. Since different functional groups can
by placing 1mL of the sodium fusion filtrate and blue litmus paper be characterized base on their odor it is important that it is noted
in a micro test tube. Acetic acid was added in the solution in a upon doing any other tests. For instance, amines often have fishy-
dropwise manner until the blue litmus paper turned red. Small odor, esters usually possess fruity or floral smell while acid have a
amount of 1% lead acetate solution was added to the solution, sharp biting odor. It is also necessary to take caution when
sulfur is present in the solution if black precipitate was visible. conducting odor tests since some of the reagents possess
corrosive vapors and others can cause dizziness.
Sodium nitroprusside test: 1mL of the fusion sample was placed in
a test tube, 2 drops of 2% sodium nitroprusside was added to the Presented in Table 3 are the solubility classes of the test
solution. Sulfur is present if a deep blue-violet color was observed. compounds. Solubility tests provides useful information. This limits
the steps that will be conducted afterwards since it will give off the
III. Test for Nitrogen possible functional groups present in the organic compounds.

1mL of the fusion filtrate was made strongly basic adjusting pH to Compounds Solubility Class
13 using 10% sodium hydroxide solution. Ferrous ammonium
sulfate and 30% potassium fluoride solution was added to the Butyl Bromide X
solution, 2 drops of each. The solution was boiled and acidified Ethanol Sn
using 3M sulfuric acid. Nitrogen is present if a blue precipitate was
Sucrose S
observed.
Buteraldehyde Sn
IV. Test for Halogen Ethanoic acid Sa
Methyl amine Sb
A flame test is conducted by dipping a copper wire into the fusion
filtrate. A green flame indicates halogen test positivity. To identify Nitro phenol A1
which among chlorine, bromine or iodine, 2mL of the fusion filtrate Diethyl ether N
was acidified using 5% nitric acid that was added in a dropwise
Benzoic acid A1
manner and slowly boiled. The solution was cooled and filtered to
obtain the precipitate that formed. 2 drops of 0.10M silver nitrate in Propanone Sn
ethanol was added to the filtrate. White precipitate indicates Unknown #7 B
chlorine, pale yellow precipitate indicates bromine and yellow Table 3. Solubility Test Results
precipitate indicates iodine.
Most compounds lie under Class Sn, in this category an organic
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS compound bears a monofunctional alcohol, aldehydes, ketones,
amides, esters, aromatic amines, nitriles and amides with five or
The results of the physical tests conducted in the experiment is lesser carbons. Compounds that are in the solubility class S are
shown in Table 2. Most of the samples are in liquid phase and are organic acid salts, amine hydrochlorides, amino acids,
colorless. The odor possessed by the test samples can also be polyfunctional compounds with hydrophilic functional groups,
used as a guide to identify what functional groups can be present sugars, polyhydroxy compounds and polybasic compounds. Class
in it. Sa compounds are monofunctional carboxylic acids that contains 5
or fewer carbons or aryl sulfonic acids. Monofunctional aromatic
Compound State Color Odor and aliphatic amines with six carbons or fewer are classified under
Butyl bromide Liquid Colorless Pleasant class Sb. Under class A1 are strong acids like carboxylic acids that
Ethanol Liquid Colorless Pleasant have more than six carbons, phenols that contain electron
withdrawing groups in the ortho or para position and beta-
Sucrose Solid Brown Sweet
diketones. If a compound is under class A2 are weak organic acids
Butyraldehyde Liquid Colorless Pungent
like phenols, enols, oximes, imides, sulfonamides, thiophenols, all
Ethanoic acid Liquid Colorless Sour
of which contains more than five carbons. Lastly, class X
Methylamine Liquid Colorless Fishy odor compounds contains saturated hydrocarbons, haloalkanes, aryl
Nitrophenol Solid Brown Pleasant halides, some deactivated aromatic compounds and diaryl ethers.
Diethyl ether Liquid Colorless Pungent

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The unknown compound was found to be insoluble in water and
soluble in 5% HCl which classifies it as an amine under class B.
The unknown compound also gives a positive result in the nitrogen
test. Compounds under class B are aliphatic amines that have
eight or more carbon atoms, or an aniline that contain a single
phenyl group attached to a nitrogen.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The solubility class of each known organic compounds were

identified by conducting physical tests and solubility tests under
different solvents. These tests help in narrowing down the
identification of the compound. The unknown compound was
identified to be under Class B solubility class which contains a
nitrogen confirmed by using elemental analysis.

To specifically identify the unknown, it is recommended to

determine its melting point and boiling point. The solubility classes
can be carefully examined by using proportional amounts of the
solvent and the solute. Also, proper handling of the reagents is
necessary to obtain positive results.

REFERENCES

1. Qualitative Analysis of Organic Compounds. (n.d.) Retrieved

from
http://academics.wellesley.edu/Chemistry/chem211lab/Orgo_Lab
_Manual/Appendix/ClassificationTests/index.html

2. Ogario, J. (2014, July 31) Preliminary Tests and Solubility

Classification of Organic Compounds. Mapua Institute of
Technology.

3. Criddle, W.J. & Ellis, G. P. (1967) Preliminary Tests. In:

Qualitative Chemical Analysis. Springer, Boston, MA

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SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Figure 1. Solubility Test Scheme

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