THE ROYAL

SOCIETY OF
CHEMISTRY
182 Microscale Chemistry
52. The oxidation of
cyclohexanol by nitric acid
Topic
Alcohols, carboxylic acids, oxidations.
Level
Post-16.
Timing
20 min.
Description
In this experiment students convert cyclohexanol to 1,6-hexanedioic acid (adipic
acid) using a ring opening oxidation with nitric acid. Since 1,6-hexanedioic acid is a
solid a melting point measurement can be done on the product (mp 152
o
C).
Apparatus (per group)
M One 100 cm
3
beaker
M Hot plate
M Three plastic pipettes
M One 50 cm
3
beaker
M One test-tube.
Chemicals (per group)
M Cyclohexanol
M Nitric acid (ca 5 mol dm
3
, concentrated nitric acid: deionised water 1:1).
Observations
A white crystalline solid should slowly form when the test-tube is cooled in the ice
bath. The solid might be slightly brown in colour due to impurities when first filtered
off, but this discoloration is removed by washing with water.
Reference
S. Breuer, Microscale practical organic chemistry, expt 26. Lancaster: Lancaster
University, 1991.
Safety
Students must wear eye protection. The reaction should be done in a fume cupboard.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to carry out a risk assessment.
THE ROYAL
SOCIETY OF
CHEMISTRY
Microscale Chemistry 89
52. The oxidation of
cyclohexanol by nitric acid
In this experiment you will be oxidising cyclohexanol using nitric acid. In this
reaction the nitric acid breaks open the six-carbon ring to form the dicarboxylic acid,
1,6-hexanedioic acid (adipic acid). Whereas cyclohexanol is a liquid,
1,6-hexanedioic acid (adipic acid) is a solid and you can measure its melting point.
The reaction is:
Cyclohexanol
OH
CO
2
H
(CH
2
)
4
1,6-hexanedioic acid
(Adipic acid)
CO
2
H
[O]
Instructions
1. Half-fill a 100 cm
3
beaker with deionised water, and heat to 8090 C.
2. Add 1 cm
3
of nitric acid to a test-tube and place in the water bath.
3. Carefully add six drops of cyclohexanol to the test-tube. You will notice some
bubbling and the nitric acid turns brown.
4. Leave for 10 min.
5. Remove the test-tube from the water bath and allow to cool to room
temperature.
6. Cool further in an ice bath crystals should form.
7. Filter off the crystals, wash with 2 cm
3
of deionised water and dry them.
8. Measure the melting point of your product.
Question
1. What is the melting point of your product? How does it compare with the
value from data books? Can you explain any variations?