D) Chromic Acid Test

Link procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkVOn_7j7-I

TYPES OF COLOUR CHANGES OCCURRENCE OF PRECIPITATE

ALCOHOL
1-HEXANOL Orange to Dark Blue-green Precipitate occur

4-METHYL-2- Orange to Dark Blue- Green Precipitate occur

PENTANOL

2-METHYL-2- Remains orange color Precipitate does not occur

PENTANOL

DISCUSSION

In this experiment, hexanol and 4-methyl-2-pentanol react with chromic acid to produce a
greenish solution because both of the alcohols contain at least one alpha hydrogen, therefore the
carbon is oxidized when the chromic acid loses hydrogen. As a result of the redox reaction, the
chromium orange chrome Cr6+ ion is reduced to the blue-green Cr3+ ion. Example reaction as
following this concept reaction : (example use alcohol: ethanol )

The 1-hexanol and 4-methyl-2-pentanol were identified because hexanol (primary)

produces aldehydes and carboxylic acid (primary) and 4-methyl-2-pentanol (secondary)
produces ketone. The negative outcome should be 2-methyl-2-pentanol (tertiary). As a result
of this experiment's observations, a positive test for aldehydes and primary or secondary
alcohols results in the formation of an opaque green to a blue solution. Tertiary alcohols (3° ¿
produce no visible reaction within 2 seconds, remaining the solution orange in appearance
because tertiary alcohol is unaffected by oxidation so there is no reaction. Moreover, the 2-
methyl-2-pentanol (tertiary) should be the negative result because tertiary alcohols are
unaffected by oxidation, but because the conditions are acidic, it will dehydrate to alkenes,
which can then be oxidized.
QUESTION
1. Write the complete chemical equations for the liquid compound that gave the positive test in the
Lucas test, Tollens, and chromic acid test.

Lucas Test
A cloudy second layer or emulsion appears :

 1 alcohol: no reaction
 2 alcohol: after 5-10 minutes
 3 alcohol: immediately to 2-3 minutes
Tollens Test
A positive test is the formation of a silver mirror or a black precipitate :
Chromic acid test
A positive test is shown by the disappearance of the red-orange color of chromic acid and the
creation of a blue-green color of the Cr (III) ion :