Hydrocarbons and Its Identification Tests for Classification

ADMC, PMMC, LAC, AKC, RMC, LJMD

2A-Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas

Abstract
Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds containing only elements carbon and hydrogen. These
organic compounds can be classified into as to whether they are cyclic or not, saturated or unsaturated,
and if they are aliphatic or aromatic. In this experiment, the objective is to identify the compounds
intrinsic physical properties and chemical properties based on the structure and behaviour, moreover, to
differentiate the hydrocarbons with the use of these properties, and to analyse as to whether a
hydrocarbon is saturated, actively unsaturated, aromatic or arene. To determine its saturation, solubility
test in concentrated sulphuric acid was used and it showed that single-bonded compounds are saturated
and unsaturated are the one with double or triple bonds. For, active unsaturation where only cyclohexene
was positive Baeyers Test and Bromine Test was used. For the nitration, it was a test for aromaticity and
only benzene and toluene were aromatic. While for oxidation, it was at test for arene and only toluene was
positive.
I.

Introduction
Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic
compounds containing only elements carbon and
hydrogen. These organic compounds can be
classified into as to whether they are cyclic or
not, saturated or unsaturated, and if they are
aliphatic or aromatic. Certain properties of these
compounds each inherent only to a specific
compound help and determine its classification
of the compound. It is important to classify these
hydrocarbons for they can be of great
importance to human being. With these
classifications, it is important to uses and
purposes to society especially in the field of
pharmacy and medicine. We can never ignore
the importance of these hydrocarbons for they
are part of natural processes present on earth.
Examples of these hydrocarbons are natural
gases, petroleum, paints and textile which are of
importance to human beings.
In this experiment, the objective is to
identify the compounds intrinsic physical
properties and chemical properties based on the
structure and behaviour and moreover, to
differentiate the hydrocarbons with the use of
these properties. Also, on a more important note,
to analyse as to whether a hydrocarbon is
saturated, actively unsaturated, aromatic or
arene.

II.

Materials and Method

Hydrocarbons used in this to be
analysed in this experiment are hexane, heptane,
cyclohexane, cyclohexene, benzene, and toluene
which will undergo certain tests for
classification.
The first step was the identification of
its physical state, color, and odor. This was done
simultaneously after the collection of sample
reagents and must be observed only at room
temperature. For this step, the physical state was
described as well as the appearance in terms of
its colour and if there are cases of turbidness.
The odor was described after investigating using
the wafting motion.
As to its solubility in concentrated
sulphuric acid, its solubility was determined
with the addition of the sample to an mL of
concentrated sulphuric acid. Also, any change in
colour and/or warming effect was noted.
For the ignition test, 3-5 drops of the
liquid sample was placed in an evaporating dish
and was lighted using a match. The flammability
of the sample was determined. In this test, the
colour of the flame as well as if there was a soot
formed.
To determine its saturation, the Baeyers
Test and Bromine Test was used. Baeyers Test
was done by placing five drops of the sample
into a dry test tube. Two drops of 2% Potassium

permanganate solution was added. The test tube

was shaken vigorously and the rate and extent at
which the reagent was decolorized was
observed. Decolourization will only be
immediate if and only if the decolourization
happened within one minute. The formation of
brown suspension was also observed. The results
of the reaction of water with 2% Potassium
permanganate solution was used as the negative
control.
Bromine test was done by adding 10
drops of 0.5% Br2 in CCl4 reagent in a
previously prepared five-drop sample in a dry
test tube. Just like the Baeyers test, the test tube
was vigorously shaken and the rate and extent of
the decolourization of the reagent or the bromine
colour was discharged was observed. Reaction
of 0.5% Br2 in CCl4 reagent with water was used
as the negative control. The reaction was
exposed to sunlight if the decolourization was
not observed within one minute. The sample
compound will be categorized as actively
unsaturated.
In the test for aromaticity, nitration will
be used. In the nitration test, a nitrating mixture
was prepared. 2mL of concentrated nitric acid

III.

was placed in an Erlenmeyer flask. While

immersed in an evaporating dish with water,
2mL of concentrated sulphuric acid was
gradually added. The mixture was then cooled to
room temperature.
In a dry test tube, 5 drops of the sample
was placed in a dry test tube. 8 drops of the
nitrating mixture was added and the test tube
was shaken to ensure complete mixing. A canary
yellow layer must be observed for sample
compounds that are aromatic. The mixture was
diluted with 20 drops of water. There was a need
for water bath for 10 minutes for mixtures with
no immediate reaction observed.
Basic oxidation is a test for the
classification of arenes. In a test tube, four drops
of the sample was added with one drop of 2%
Potassium permanganate solution, seven drops
of distilled water, and three drops 10% Sodium
hydroxide solution. The test tubes were placed
in water bath for two minutes. A blue-green
solution with possibly brown precipitate was
observed for some sample compounds.

Results and Discussion

Sample Compound
Physical State
Appearance
Odor
Hexane
Liquid
Clear, colourless
Gasoline-like
Heptane
Liquid
Clear, colourless
Odorless
Cyclohexane
Liquid
Clear, colourless
Acetone-like
Cyclohexene
Liquid
Clear, colourless
Gasoline-like
Benzene
Liquid
Clear, colourless
Plastic balloon-like
Toluene
Liquid
Clear, colourless
Gasoline-like
Table No. 1. Physical State, Appearance and Odor observed.

For solubility, it follows the like

dissolves like rule. Therefore, polar compounds
like water, alcohol, and carboxylic acids will
only dissolve polar compounds. Likewise,
nonpolar compounds will only dissolve nonpolar
compounds. In the experiment, miscibility was
also determined. Miscibility is the ability to
form a homogenous solution in mixing
proportion. Homogenous solutions mean that

compounds are soluble in concentrated sulphuric

acid. Hydrocarbons tend to be more nonpolar
and therefore will only be dissolved in nonpolar
compounds. In the experiment, hexane, heptane,
and cyclohexane showed miscibility and
solubility. These properties depend on the
intermolecular forces of attraction. For example,
water and ethanol will form a miscible solution
due to hydrogen bonding of both compound and

will undergo strong intermolecular attraction.

nonpolar due to the dispersion between
Alkenes and alkynes are tend to be more
molecules.
Sample Compound
Solubility in concentrated H2SO4
Inference
Hexane
Soluble (clear, colorless)
Saturated
Heptane
Soluble (clear, colorless)
Saturated
Cyclohexane
Soluble (clear, colorless)
Saturated
Cyclohexene
Miscible (turbid, orange)
Unsaturated
Benzene
immiscible (clear, yellowish)
Unsaturated
Toluene
immiscible (clear, colorless to yellow)
Unsaturated
Table No. 2. Results for Solubility Test in Concentrated in H2SO4
An organic compound is said to be
saturated when it only contains single covalent
bonds. Therefore, unsaturated hydrocarbons are
those compounds with double or triple covalent
bonds.
Examples of saturated hydrocarbons are
hexane, heptane, and cyclohexane just like the
Sample Compound
Hexane
Heptane
Cyclohexane
Cyclohexene
Benzene
Toluene

Ignition Test
Orange flame, no soot
Orange flame, no soot
Orange flame, no soot
Orange flame, no soot
Orange flame, no soot
Orange flame, with soot, violent reaction
Table No. 3. Results for Ignition Test

For the ignition test, all of the

compounds are flammable but there is a
difference in the flame during the experiment.
Alkanes react with oxygen and when they react
with oxygen heat and light is given off. If
oxygen is limited, they to not burn efficiently.
Also in the reaction of an alkane with oxygen,
the products are carbon dioxide and water, the
hydrocarbons will give off carbon monoxide and
Sample Compound
Hexane

Baeyers Test
none

Heptane

none

Cyclohexane

none

Cyclohexene

Immediate
decolourization
none

Benzene

results presented in Table No. 2. Alkane are

therefore considered as saturated hydrocarbons.
Conversely, cyclohexene, benzene, and toluene
are unsaturated hydrocarbons. Alkenes and
alkynes fall under this classification of
hydrocarbons.

Inference
Flammable
Flammable
Flammable
Flammable
Flammable
Flammable

elemental carbon. That is the reason why there

are evidences of soot.
For alkenes, they react violently with
fire because they have very reactive multiple
carbon bonds. Also, toluene showed a violent
ignition, aside from the reason that is a reactive
multiple carbon bonds, is that it has oxygen
present.

Bromine Test
Decolorized with sunlight;
warming effect
Decolorized with sunlight;
warming effect
No decolourization
colourization
Decolorized with sunlight;
warming effect

Inference
Not actively
unsaturated
Not actively
unsaturated
Not actively
unsaturated
Actively
unsaturated
Not actively
unsaturated

Toluene

none

Decolorized with sunlight;

Not actively
warming effect
unsaturated
Table No. 4. Results for Baeyers Test and Bromine Test

Alkanes can be identified using the

Bromine test. The visible positive result for
bromine test is the brown precipitate. Alkanes
can be identified because it requires light for the
reaction to take place. This is evident for
hexane, heptane, and cyclohexane. Alkenes and
alkynes also react with bromine in CCl4 but
there is no need for sunlight for it to complete its
reaction. Therefore, hexane, heptane, and
cyclohexane are saturated hydrocarbons while

cyclohexene, benzene and toluene are

unsaturated hydrocarbons but are not actively
unsaturated.
Baeyers test will determine if a
compound if they are unsaturated. Potassium
permanganate is a violet solution and when it
reacts with unsaturated carbons it will changes
color showing a brown precipitate. With this
test, it showed that cyclohexene is actively
unsaturated.

Sample Compound
Nitration
Hexane
No change
Heptane
No change
Cyclohexane
No change
Cyclohexene
Yellow solution
Benzene
Yellow oily layer
Toluene
Yellow oily layer
Table No. 5. Results for Test for Aromaticity Nitration
Nitration is a chemical reaction in
which a nitro group is added to a hydrocarbon
compound replacing a hydrogen. In nitration,
sulphuric acid and nitric acid are reacted with
the samples. Simple aromatic hydrocarbon will
react with warm sulphuric acid to form a

Inference
aliphatic
aliphatic
aliphatic
aliphatic
aromatic
aromatic

sulfonic acid which will then dissolve and then

precipitate when the nitro group is precipitated.
Yellow globules indicate that the hydrocarbon is
aromatic which is true for benzene and toluene
while the others are aliphatic for there are no
visible positive result.

Sample Compound
Hexane
Heptane
Cyclohexane
Cyclohexene
Benzene
Toluene

Basic Oxidation
Inference
No visible positive result
Not an arene
No visible positive result
Not an arene
No visible positive result
Not an arene
Brown precipitate with visible positive
Oxidized but not an
result
arene
No visible positive result
Not an arene
Blue-green solution
arene
Table No. 5. Results for Test for Aromaticity Nitration

For this test, a strong oxidizing agent

was used which is KMnO4 and this reaction will
signify that there is an oxidation reaction formed
IV.

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