Quali. Elemental Analysis Organic Chem.

Lab Manual

Activity No. 8
Qualitative Elemental Analysis of Organic Compounds:
Lassaigne’s Test

A systematic approach to the determination of the structure of a pure organic compounds

begins with observations of its physical characteristics, e.g. melting point, etc. and the qualitative
elemental analysis. These are followed by solubility tests, functional group determination and
preparation of a derivative/s. It should be noted that melting and boiling point determinations were
already taken up in previous experiments. In this experiment, students are expected to learn how to
carry out qualitative elemental analysis. The student should be knowledgeable and familiar with the
tests, procedure and theoretical principles involved inasmuch as these will be important in future work
such as systematic identification of organic compounds and determination of elements present in plants
or animal tissues.

The objective in qualitative elemental analysis is to detect the presence of nitrogen, sulfur,
halogen (chlorine, bromine, iodine) and oxygen in an organic compound. The first step is the treatment
of a small sample of the compound with molten sodium metal, a powerful reducing agent, to convert
all nitrogen, sulfur and halogen to cyanide, sulfide and halide respectively. Students should learn how
to carry out this initial step correctly inasmuch as it is the fusion mixture that will be used in subsequent
steps of the analysis.

The sulfide is readily detected by the addition of lead acetate to an acidified solution of the
fusion mixture. Formation of a black precipitate (lead sulfide) is the positive response to this test.

To test for the presence of cyanide, the filtered basic solution is treated with aqueous ferrous
sulfate and ferric chloride, boiled for a few minutes and acidified with sulfuric acid. If cyanide is present,
a precipitate of prussian blue (ferric ferrocyanide) results (Jacobs, T. L., et. al. 1974).

The presence of halides is detected by precipitating it as a silver halide by the addition of silver
nitrate to the acidified test solution. Then the solubility of the precipitate in dilute ammonia is
investigated. If the precipitate is soluble, chloride is present; if insoluble, iodine is present; if partially
soluble, bromine is present.

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Quali. Elemental Analysis Organic Chem. Lab Manual

MATERIALS:
fusion bulblets (3) Bunsen burner test tubes (6)
wire triangle 10-mL graduated cylinder test tube rack
test tube brush wire gauze test tube holder
filter papers (6) crucible tong centrifuge
glass rod blue and red litmus paper watch glass
filter funnel dropper 250-mL beaker (2)
Tirrill burner evaporating dish or china dish

CHEMICALS:
sodium metal 10% lead acetate
chlorobenzene 6M silver nitrate 0.1
sulfanilic acid 6M sodium hydroxide 0.1
6M nitric acid 6M ferric chloride 0.1
dil. ammonia 6M ferrous sulfate, (fresh-01. prepared)
3M sulfuric acid unknown compound
glacial acetic acid Universal indicator

PROCEDURE: (Landgrebe, 1972; Shriner, et.al., 1980)

I. Preparation of Lassaigne's Extract

Do sodium fusion (one at a time) for: solid sulfanilic acid and liquid chlorobenzene.

A. Liquid Sample
1. Clean a piece of sodium metal (must be shiny) by pressing it between folded filter
paper. Place in a clean bulblet.
2. Heat the lower part of the bulblet gently until the sodium melts and vaporizes in the
tube. Then add 2 drops of the liquid test sample directly into the sodium. Be sure the
test compound does not touch the hot side of the tube, because it may pyrolyze before
it reacts with sodium.
3. Heat gently then gradually increase the flame until the tube gets red hot for a minute.
4. Drop the tube into an evaporating did or China dish containing 10 mL distilled water
and break up the bulblet with a stirring rod.
5. Boil then filter while hot. This filtrate is called Lassaigne's Extract. Use the filtrate for
qualitative test for elements.

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Quali. Elemental Analysis Organic Chem. Lab Manual

B. Solid Sample
1. Clean a piece of sodium metal (must be shiny) by pressing it between folded filter
paper. Roll the sodium into a small amount of the test sample in a watch glass. Then
introduce the sodium metal covered with the test sample in a bulblet.
2. Heat the bottom of the bulblet gently to melt the sodium metal then quickly add the
solid sample into the bulblet. Then gradually increase the flame until it gets red hot
for a minute.
3. Drop into an evaporating dish with 25 mL distilled water and break up the bulblet with
a glass rod.
4. Boil then filter while hot. This filtrate is called Lassaigne's Extract. Use the filtrate for
qualitative test for elements.

III. Test for nitrogen, sulfur and halogen (one at a time) for:
a. sulfanilic acid b. Chlorobenzene

A. Nitrogen
1. Add 2 drops of ferrous sulfate solution to 2mL of the test solution. Make alkaline by
adding enough NaOH solution (pH 11).
2. Boil. Filter to remove FeS.
3. Acidify the filtrate with dilute H2SO4 and add 2 drops ferric chloride solution.
4. Let stand for 10 minutes. A prussian blue precipitate indicates presence of nitrogen.
Present your result to the instructor for verification. Have your recorded observation
signed by your instructor.

B. Sulfur
1. Acidify 2 mL of test solution with dilute acetic acid then add a few drops of lead acetate
solution.
2. Black or brown precipitate indicates sulfur. Show the result to your instructor. Record
and have it signed by your instructor.

C. Halogen
1. Acidify 2 mL of the test solution with 6M HNO3. If N or S has been found, boil the
solution to expel HCN and H2S.
2. Add 3 drops silver nitrate solution to precipitate silver halide. Formation of a precipitate
indicates presence of a halide. If no precipitate forms, do not proceed anymore to no.
3. It should be inferred that halogens are absent. Show the result to your instructor.
Record and have it signed by your instructor.

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Quali. Elemental Analysis Organic Chem. Lab Manual

3. If precipitate is formed, centrifuge and decant. Note the color of precipitate. Add 1
mL dilute ammonia and note whether the precipitate is soluble, insoluble or slightly
soluble. If the precipitate is white and soluble, it is AgCl. If pale yellow and partially
soluble, it is AgBr. However, if it is yellow and insoluble, then it is AgI. Show your
result to your instructor, record and have it signed by your instructor.
.

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