I.

Solubility Tests
Solvent
H2O

Class(es) soluble or miscible

alipathic alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids,
acid anhydride, esters

5% HCl
5% NaOH
5% NaHCO3

(limit: 5 carbons)
amines
carboxylic acids, phenols
carboxylic acids

Solubility test: presence of polar functional groups can increase the solubility in water
For compounds with same functional group and same number of carbons, higher degree
of branching, increases the solubility of compound/s

II. Combustion
Higher C/H ratio, higher flame luminosity (color more intense), higher soot
unsaturated HC produces more luminous flame than saturated HC
aromatic HC more luminous than saturated HC

III. Classification Test to Differentiate Different Classes of Organic Compounds

Classification Test

Class(es) Tested for

Reagents

Visible Positive
Results

Solubility in
concentrated H2SO4

alkenes

Concd H2SO4

Sample is miscible,
Warming effect
Decolorization of
purple color and
formation of brown
suspension of MnO2

Baeyers Test

Alkenes
alkynes

2% KMnO4

Bromine Test

Alkenes
alkynes

Br2 in CCl4 (or DCM)

Immediate
decolorization of
bromine color

Bromine Test

alkanes

Br2 in CCl4 (or DCM)

under sunlight (UV)

Slow decolorization
of bromine color

Test for aromaticity

Aromatic compounds
(compounds with
benzene ring)

Concentrated
HNO3/H2SO4

Formation of yellow,
oily layer

Basic Oxidation test

Arenes (compounds
with both aromatic
and alipathic parts,
ex. Toluene)

KMnO4 and NaOH

Formation of bluegreen solution

Beilstein Test
(Ignition Test)

Organohalides or
haloalkanes

Cu wire + flame

Green flame

SN1 reactivity

2 and 3 Alkyl
halides
SN1 reactivity:
30 >20 >10

Ethanolic AgNO3

Formation of white
precipitate

SN2 reactivity

1 and 2 Alkyl
halides
SN2 reactivity:
10 > 20 > 30

NaI in acetone

Formation of white
precipitate

Lucas Test

3 Alcohols

HCl, ZnCl2

Formation of
emulsion or 2 layers

Chromic acid test

(Jones oxidation)

1 and 2 Alcohols

K2Cr2O7 and H2SO4

Opaque suspension
with intense blue to
green color

Aldehydes
2,4dinitrophenylhydrazin
e (DNP) test

Aldehydes
Ketones

2,4dinitrophenylhydrazin
e in H2SO4 and ethanol

Yellow to orange or
red precipitate

Fehlings Test

Aldehydes

CuSO4 and potassium

sodium tartrate in
NaOH

Brick-red precipitate

Tollens Test

aldehydes

AgNO3, NaOH,
NH4OH

Formation of silver
mirror

Iodoform Test

Alcohols (20 alcohols KI and NaClO

with CH3 group
attached to the carbon
containing the OH
group)

Formation of yellow
precipitate

Methyl ketones
Water Hydrolysis

Acid halide
Acid anhydride

water

Formation of
carboxylic acid
(noted by odor /
warming effect)

Sodium bicarbonate
(NaHCO3) test

Carboxylic acid

NaHCO3

Evolution of gas

Ethanolic silver nitrate

(AgNO3)

Acid halide

Ethanolic AgNO3

Formation of
precipitate

Sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) hydrolysis

Amides (ex.
Benzamide)

NaOH with heating

Evolution of
ammonia which is
tested with litmus
paper (red to blue--

base)
Alcoholysis: SchottenBaumann Reaction

Acid anhydride
Acid halide
Carboxylic acid

Ethanol

Reaction with alcohol

(ethanol in the
experiment) will
form esters (sweetsmelling) which will
form a layer on top of
water

Aminolysis: Anilide
formation

Acid anhydride
Acid halide

aniline

Hydroxamic acid test

Acid anhydride
Acid halide
Esters
Amides

5% FeCl3

Formation of anilide
precipitate (white
crystals)
Burgundy or magenta
color formation

Hinsberg test

Amines

Benzenesulfonyl
chloride in NaOH

1 Amine :
Clear solution, ppt
will form after
addition of HCl
2 Amine :
Formation of ppt, no
reaction upon
addition of HCl
3 Amine :
Insoluble solid,
becomes a clear
solution upon
addition of HCl

Ferric chloride test

Compounds with
phenol group

2% FeCl3

Intense violet color

Starch test

Starch

Iodine solution

Blue-black color of
solution

Glycerol (Acrolein)

glycerol

KHSO4 + heat

Burnt fat odor

test

IV. Synthesis of Aspirin and Methyl Salicylate

Synthesis of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)

Synthesis of methyl salicylate

Both syntheses involve formation of ester (esterification reaction)

Esterification reaction occurred via nucleophilic acyl substitution (SNacyl)
V. Synthesis of Soap and Detergent

Synthesis of soap:

Soap is salt of fatty acid (the fatty acid came from the oil used in the experiment)
Soaps, will react with metal ions in hard water and can form insoluble precipitates
(called soap scums)
The metal ions are Mg2+ and Ca2+ (these ions are present in hard water, ex tap water or
deep-well water)
Capable of emulsifying or dispersing oil
Synthesis of detergent:

 Detergents are salts of long-chain alcohols

They do not form insoluble precipitates with Mg2+ and Ca2+
Capable of emulsifying or dispersing oil