Tests for organic substances

Use the Simple test for organic substances found on the EdExcel Practical Chemistry 2008 CD-ROM on the school
intranet to complete the table below.
http://intranet/cdroms/chemistryedexcel2008/simple_tests_for_organic.htm

Substance

Test

Result if positive

Explanation of
result

White fumes seem which

turn damp blue litmus
red

HCl gas released

OH groups

Add PCl5

Primary and
secondary alcohols

Add acidified potassium

dichromate(VI) and warm
gently

Solution turns from

orange to blue/green

Orange Cr2O72- ions

are reduced to green
Cr3+ ions

Tertiary alcohols

Add acidified potassium

dichromate(VI) and warm
gently

No colour change

Tertiary alcohols
cannot be oxidised

Alkenes

1. Add bromine water

2. Add acidified potassium
manganate(VII)

1. Turns from orange to

colourless
2. Turns from purple to
colourless

Addition reactions
occur across double
bond

Add Bradys reagent (or 2,4

DNP)

Orange or yellow ppt

seen with aldehydes and
ketones

Distinguishing
between aldehydes
and ketones

Add Benedicts reagent or

Fehlings solution and warm

Aldehydes are
Brick red ppt seen with
reducing agents
aldehydes; no change for
whereas ketones are
ketones
not

Carboxylic acid

Add sodium carbonate

solution

Effervescence

Acids react with

carbonates to
release CO2 gas

Halogenoalkanes

0.5 cm3 of suspected

halogenoalkane is added to a test
tube, followed by 1 cm3 of
ethanol and 1 cm3 of sodium
hydroxide solution. The tube is
heated in a boiling water bath
for a few minutes. Dilute nitric
acid is added until the mixture is
acidic then a few drops of 0.02 M
silver nitrate solution is added.

A precipitate is formed,
the colour of which can
be used to identify the
halogen present.
White ppt = chlorine
Cream ppt = bromine
Yellow ppt= iodine

Substitution reaction
takes place where
OH- replaces halogen
to release a halide
ion. Halide ion then
tested for in usual
way.

Carbonyl, C=O

In A2 course