ACTIVITY NO.

2
DETECTION OF COMMON ELEMENTS IN DRUG SAMPLES

Elemental analysis experiment that determines the amount (typically a weight percent) of an element in a
compound The most common type of elemental analysis is for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and heteroatoms (CHNX
analysis).
- type of analysis useful for organic compounds (compounds containing carbon-carbon bonds)
- important to help determine the structure of an unknown compound, as well as to help ascertain the structure
and purity of a synthesized compound
2 Ways: 1. QUANTITATIVE: determine how much of each element are present
2. QUALITATIVE: determine what elements are present

PRINCIPLES INVOLVED

Indicators reacted to the sample due

1.Test for
to the presence of H3O+ and OHacidity &
Blue litmus Red litmus : acidic
alkalinity
Red Blue: Basic

2.Test for
H and O
3.Test for
C
4.Test for
N

5.Test for
Halogen

Liberation of H and O resulting to

the presence of moisture inside (on
the sides) the test tubes
Presence of black residue
as product of incomplete
combustion of hydrocarbons
N is basic in nature and yields
ammoniated odor
a. Beilstein Test: Formation of soot
during the combustion indicates
aromatic compounds.
Organic chlorides deep green
bromides bluish with a green at
edge

ASPIRIN
(acetylsalicylic
acid)

PARACETAMOL
(acetyl-paraSULFONAMIDE
aminophenol)
B R (weakly
acidic (pKa 58)
due to the
powerful
electron
withdrawing
effect of the
SO2 substituent
& stabilization of
the resulting anion
by resonance)

BR

RB

Presence of
moisture (+)

Presence of
moisture (+)

Presence of
moisture (+)

Black Residue
(+)

Black Residue (+)

Black Residue (+)

a. R R ()
b. burnt sugar

a. R B (+)
b. pungent odor

a. R B (+)
b. pungent odor

Yellow ()

Yellow ()

Yellow ()

A green flash is indicative of

chlorine, bromine, and iodine,
but NOT fluorine.

//rgd13

Pharmacy and Chemistry of Medicinals II

ACTIVITY NO. 2
DETECTION OF COMMON ELEMENTS IN DRUG SAMPLES

b. tests for halide ions using silver

nitrate solution followed by
ammonia solution
Ion
Present
FClBrI-

Observation
no precipitate
white precipitate
very pale cream
precipitate
very pale yellow
precipitate

a. Millons Test:
Phenolic amino acids (Tyrosine and
its derivatives) respond to this test.
Compounds with a hydroxybenzene
radical react with Millons reagent
to form a red colored complex.
Millons reagent is a solution of
mercuric sulfate in sulfuric acid.
6.Test for
phenol
and
benzene

NR

NR

NR

Red (+)

NR

Blue/Violetblue
color (+)

blue, violet,
purple, green, or
red-brown color
(+)

NR

White ppt

yellow color (-)

b. Ferric chloride Test:
Compounds with a phenol group
will form a blue, violet, purple,
green, or red-brown coloration
Equation
3ArOH + FeCl3 Fe(OAr)3 +
3HCl

7.Test for
S and P

NR

P + HNO3 PO4- liberates to react

with ammonium molybdate
ammonium phosphomolybdate
(yellow precipitate)

determines the
purity of aspirin
FeCl3 + phenol
group = purple
complex
If salicylic acid
(a phenol) is
present
(impurity) the
product will turn
purple

NR

S + HNO3 H2SO4 + BaCl2

BaSO4 (white precipitate)

NR = No Reaction

//rgd13

Pharmacy and Chemistry of Medicinals II

ACTIVITY NO. 2
DETECTION OF COMMON ELEMENTS IN DRUG SAMPLES

Drugs containing Sulfur

1. Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
2. Gliclazide (Diamicron MR)
3. Acetazolamide (Diamox)
4. Celecoxib (Celebrex)
5. Furosemide (Lasix)
Drugs Containing Phosphorus
1. Dibasic Sodium Phosphate (Fleet
Enema)
2. Alendronate (Fosamax)
3. Foscarnet (Foscavir)
4. Citicoline (Cholinerv)
5. Risedronate (Actonel)
Drugs Containing Halogens
1. Cefaclor (Xelent): Cl
2. Vancomycin (Vancocin): Cl
3. Chlorpromazine (Thorazine): Cl
4. Levothyroxine (Eltroxin): I
5. Ipratropium Br (Atrovent): Br
Drugs Containing Nitrogen
1. Theophylline (Nuelin SR)
2. Na Nitroprusside
3. Glyceryl Trinitrate (Deponit NT 5)
4. Ceftriaxone (or any Cephalosporin)
5. Phenobarbital (or any Barbiturates)
Drugs Containing Phenyl
1. Aspirin
2. Paracetamol
3. Morphine
4. Ibuprofen
5. Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Drugs Containing Oxygen
1. Omeprazole (Risek )
2. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
3. Amoxicillin (Himox)
4. Azithromycin (Zithromax )
5. Diazepam (Valium)

//rgd13

Pharmacy and Chemistry of Medicinals II