Risk assessment

Experiment 1: Qualitative Analysis of Unknown Organic Compounds

Compound Hazard Handling Spillage Disposal

(besides
wearing gloves
and goggles)

Diethyl ether Extremely Keep away Absorb spill Waste

volatile and from heat, with inert container.
flammable sparks and material (e.g.
flame. Use in a vermiculite,
chemical sand or
fumehood earth).
Remove all
sources of
ignition
Acidified
Potassium
permanganate
solution Clean
Irritating to Waste
affected
eyes and skin container
surface.

Acidified Irritating to eyes Take up with Waste container

potassium and skin liquid-absorbent
dichromate May cause and neutralizing
solution sensitization by material. Clean
skin contact affected area

Sodium
bicarbonate
solution
Clean
Waste
affected
container
surface.

Foundation in Science
Chemistry 3 Practical
© International Medical University
 Concentrated Very corrosive Fume hood Take up with Waste container
sulfuric acid and risk of liquid-absorbent
serious damage and neutralizing
to eyes material. Clean
affected area

Ethanoic acid Very corrosive Fume hood Take up with Waste container
and risk of liquid-absorbent
serious damage and neutralizing
to eyes material. Clean
affected area

Fehling solution Corrosive and Fume hood Take up with Waste container
risk of serious liquid-absorbent
damage to eyes and neutralizing
material. Clean
affected area

Solution A, B, C, Very corrosive Store and use

D and E and risk of away from heat,
serious damage spark open Absorb spill
to eyes / flame and other with inert
Extremely ignition sources. material (e.g.
flammable, vermiculite, Waste
irritating to eyes sand or earth), container
and respiratory then place in
system, suitable
carcinogenic container.
(category 2)

Wear gloves and goggles at all time!

Safety information can be found in MSDS (sources of MSDS: Laboratory office and
website such as www.fisher.com.my, www.merck.com)

Foundation in Science
Chemistry 3 Practical
© International Medical University
Experiment 1 Qualitative Analysis of Unknown Organic Compound

Objective

 Chemical tests to differentiate the functional groups of unknown organic compounds.

Materials

Chemicals
 Diethyl ether
 Fehling’s reagent
 Potassium permanganate solution
 Acidified potassium dichromate solution
 Sodium bicarbonate solution
 Labelled samples of organic compounds consist of alkene, alcohol, aldehyde and
carboxylic acid:
o Organic sample A, B, C, D and E.

Apparatus
 Test tube
 Boiling tube
 Rubber stopper
 Wooden splinter
 Test tube holder
 Test tube rack

Foundation in Science
Chemistry 3 Practical
© International Medical University
Procedure
1. You are to design two experiments to identify the samples provided.
Part I : to identify the solubility of the organic compounds
Part II : to identify the functional group of the organic compounds (alkene, 1o alcohol, 3o
alcohol, aldehyde and carboxylic acid).

The followings chemical tests are provided as a guideline:

Solubility
Test the solubility of the hydrocarbons in the following solvents by shaking 1 mL of the
compound in a clean, dry test tube with 5 mL of each solvent: water and diethyl ether.

Flammability
Hydrocarbons are highly flammable, and their vapours may be explosive in air. Be very careful
with flames. Place 0.5 mL of the hydrocarbon in an evaporating dish and ignite. Observe the
type and colour of the flame, the carbon that is in the flame, and the amount of residue that
remains.

Action of acidified potassium permanganate solution

Place 1 mL of the hydrocarbon in a test tube. Add 1 mL of a 0.1 M aqueous solution of
potassium permanganate. Shake well. Observe all changes that occur while allowing the
mixture to stand. If there is a decolourisation of the purple colour then oxidation has taken
place.

Dichromate Test (for alcohol compounds)

Add 1 mL of 0.1 M acidified dichromate solution to the test tubes containing samples. Shake
well and warm in the water bath for about 10 minutes. Record the odour and colour of the
results.

Fehling’s Test (for aldehyde compounds)

Place 1 mL of Fehling’s reagent to the test tubes. Add 5 drops of sample into the test tubes
containing Fehling’s reagent. Warm in the water bath for about 10 minutes. Record the results.

Bicarbonate Test (for carboxylic acid compounds)

Add bicarbonate solution drop wise into the test tubes containing 1 mL of samples. Observe
and record the results.

Esterification (for alcohol compounds)

Add 1 mL of ethanoic acid, followed by 3 drops of concentrated sulfuric acid, warm in the
water bath for about 10 minutes. Record the odour and colour of the results.

Acidity Test (for carboxylic acid)

Check the acidity of 1 mL of the sample with moist blue litmus paper and record the result.

Based on what you did in the laboratory, record the observations in the tables and distinguish
the types of unknown organic compounds.

Foundation in Science
Chemistry 3 Practical
© International Medical University