Classification of Hydrocarbons

Abstract
Hydrocarbons are of different types. Depending upon the types of carbon-carbon bonds
present, they can be classified into three main categories (i) saturated (ii) unsaturated
and (iii) aromatic hydrocarbons. Hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, cyclohexene, benzene,
and toluene were investigated through several tests. The intrinsic properties of the
compounds were observed to determine their physical state, color, and odor. All the
compounds have a clear colorless solution but they vary in odor. Solubility tests were
also done using concentrated H2SO4 or sulfuric acid as a reagent. The test compounds
were also subjected with ignition test. All the test compounds were flammable. The
alkanes produced yellow flame. Moreover, the cyclic compounds produced soot. The
active unsaturation of the test compounds was tested using the Baeyers test and Bromine
test. In the Baeyers test, the solvent or reagent used was 2% KMno4 to react with the test
compounds. A positive result will show decolorization from violet to brown, which was
seen only in cyclohexene. For the bromine test, the compounds were reacted using Br2 in
CCl4 solution. Cyclohexene showed an immediate decolorization without the evolution
of HBr while the other unsaturated compounds, toluene and benzene, showed no color
change. In addition, the compounds hexane, heptane, and cyclohexane have slow reaction
but rapid reactions occur upon exposure to sunlight. The aromaticity of the compounds
was also tested using nitration test. The concentrated nitric acid HNO3 catalyzed by
H2SO4 was reacted to the compounds. After the test, the compounds benzene and
toluene have unique yellow oily layer which shows a positive result of their aromaticity.