Laboratory Activity

PROPERTIES OF ALKANES, ALKENES, AROMATIC COMPOUNDS AND AN ALCOHOL

I. Objectives:

In this lab activity, hexane will be used to represent the saturated hydrocarbons, cyclohexene
will be used as an unsaturated hydrocarbon, and toluene, the aromatic hydrocarbon. Methanol
will also be examined. You will differentiate hydrocarbon in terms of combustion, solubility,
reaction with bromine and reaction with potassium permanganate.

II. Materials
Write the materials/apparatus and chemicals used in the following experiments. Use the video
experiments as reference.
Combustion
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Solubility
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Reaction with Bromine
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Reaction with Potassium Permanganate
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III. Procedure
Make sure to discuss qualitatively how the experiments were performed. Use the video
experiments as reference.
a. Combustion
b. Solubility
c. Reaction with Bromine
d. Reaction with Potassium Permanganate

IV. Observation and Data

a. COMBUSTION
1. Write your observation in the table

Chemical Chemical Formula Observation during Ignition

Methanol
Hexane
 Cyclohexene
Toluene

2. Write complete balanced combustion reactions.

Chemical Balanced Combustion Reactions

Methanol
Hexane
Cyclohexene
Toluene

b. SOLUBILITY
1. Write your observation in the table

Chemical Observations
Methanol + Water
Hexane + Water
Cyclohexene + Water
Toluene + Water
Hexane + Cyclohexene
Hexane + Toluene
Cyclohexene + Toluene

2. Make a generalization on the solubility of hydrocarbons

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c. REACTION WITH BROMINE

1. Write your observation in the table and give the interpretation of the color change

Interpretation of the Color

Chemical Observation
The color of the liquid alkane
becomes dark orange because it
Alkane was mixed with a bromine water
which has an orange color.
After the bromine water was
dropped there is no change in the
Alkene
color of the liquid alkene, it stayed
clear and colorless
Change
There is no reaction between
the alkane and bromine water.
Because of the saturated nature
of alkane, it does not undergo
addition reaction.
There is a reaction between
alkene and bromine water. The
alkene decolorizes bromine in a
reaction called addition
 reaction. The alkene is saturated
when the bromine attaches to
the molecule because double
bond is broken to attach to
bromine.

2. Draw the structural formula of the product (only if reaction occurs).

Structural Formula of Products

Chemical
Note: If reaction did not take place, write “no reaction only”
NO REACTION ONLY
Alkane

H H H H H
H C C C C C H
Alkene H H H Br Br

Akenes with 5 to 14 carbons are liquid in room temperature.

d. REACTION POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE

1. Write your observation in the table and give the interpretation of the color change

Interpretation of the Color

Chemical Observation
Change
Hexane
Cyclohexene
Toluene

2. Draw the structural formula of the product (only if reaction occurs).

Structural Formula of Products

Chemical
Note: If reaction did not take place, write “no reaction only”

Hexane

Cyclohexene
 Toluene

V. Conclusions
Write a conclusion regarding the different properties of hydrocarbons.
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