C.

TEST FOR UNSATURATION (BROMINE WATER TEST)

Bromine water test is a qualitative test for the presence of unsaturation in a fatty acids or
triglyceride.

History

Bromine was discovered in 1826 by the French chemist Antoine-Jérôme Balard in the residues
(bitterns) from the manufacture of sea salt at Montpellier. He liberated the element by
passing chlorine through an aqueous solution of the residues, which
contained magnesium bromide.

ROLES OF REAGENT

Bromine Water:
Methylene Chloride:

PROCEDURE:

1. Prepare 2 clean and dry test tubes. To 1 of the tubes, place 1.0 mL of vegetable oil and in
the other, the contents of a lecithin soft gel capsule dissolved in 1.0 ml of methylene
chloride. Pierce the gel capsule with a pointed object, e.g., a needle or copper wire.

2. Add 1.0 ml of bromine water to both tubes and mix thoroughly.

CAUTION: Bromine water is corrosive! See First-aid measures in case of an accident.

3. Compare the change in color of the bromine water. With vegetable oil, bromine water
forms the upper layer while with methylene chloride, bromine water forms the lower
layer.

4. Record your observations.

ydrogenation
Bromine water test
Unsaturatedvegetable oils contain carbon-carbon double bonds. They can be detected using
bromine water, just as alkenes can be detected in this way. Bromine water becomes colourless
when shaken with an unsaturated vegetable oil, but it stays orange-brown when shaken with
a saturated vegetable fat.

Bromine water can also be used to determine the level of saturation of a vegetable oil.