SCES3203 GENERAL CHEMISTRY

Practical 3 : Ethanol preparation and study of its chemical properties

Aim : To produce pure ethanol using the fermentation and distillation

processes and study its chemical properties.

Materials : Glucose solution, yeast, lime water, tap water, porcelain pieces,
ethanol, potassium dichromate (VI) solution, potassium manganate (VII)
solution, concentrated sulphuric acid, bromine water, blue litmus paper,
glass wool, ice, unglazed porcelain chips, wooden splint and water.

Apparatus : 250 ml conical flask, test tube, stopper and delivery tube, beaker,
spatula, round-bottomed flask, wire gauge, tripod stand, Bunsen burner,
thermometer, Liebig condenser, rubber hose, retort stand.

Figure 1 (a)

Figure 1 (b)

Procedure:

A: Preparation of Ethanol

1. Approximately 100 cm3 of glucose solution is poured into the conical flask.

2. Two spatulas of yeast are then added into the glucose solution.

3. The apparatus is arranged as shown in Figure 1 (a).

4. The mixture is left at room temperature for one or two days.

5. At the end of the activity, the changes are observed.

 6. The products of the fermentation is poured into the distillation flask and heated
(Figure 1 (b) )

7. The clear liquid that is distilled out from the Liebig condenser is collected.

8. The temperature of the thermometer is recorded when the clear liquid is distilled
out.

9. The colour of the distilled product and its smell are observed and recorded.

B: Chemical Properties of Ethanol

a) Combustion of Ethanol

Figure 2: Burning ethanol.

1. About 2 cm3 of ethanol is poured into an evaporating dish.

2. A lighted wooden splint is used to ignite the ethanol.
3. The combustibility of the ethanol is noted. The colour and sootiness of
resulting flame is also noted.

b) Oxidation of Ethanol

Figure 3: Oxidising ethanol.

1. About 10 cm3 of potassium dichromate (VI) solution is poured into a boiling
tube.
2. A dropper is used to add about 10 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid into
the boiling tube.
3. About 3 cm3 of ethanol is then added to the mixture.
4. The apparatus is set up.
5. The boiling tube is heated carefully with a gentle flame until the mixture boils.
Any change in colour of the mixture is noted.
6. The distillate is collected in a test tube immersed in a cold water.
7. The colour and smell of the distillate are noted.
8. The distillate is tested with a piece of moist blue litmus paper.
9. The change to the blue litmus paper is recorded.

c) Dehydration of Ethanol

Figure 4: Dehydrating ethanol.

1. Some glass wool is placed in a boiling tube.

2. Using a dropper, some ethanol is added into the boiling tube to wet the glass
wool.
3. The boiling tube is clamped horizontally and unglazed porcelain chips are
placed in the mid-section of the boiling tube.
 4. The boiling tube is closed with a stopper fitted with a delivery tube. The other
end of the delivery tube is placed under an inverted test tube filled with water.
5. The apparatus is set up.
6. The unglazed porcelain chips are heated strongly. When the porcelain chips
are hot, the flam is shifted to heat gently the glass wool to vaporise the
ethanol.
7. Heating is continued to produce enough gas to fill two test tubes.
8. The following test are carried out on the gas collected in the two test tubes
(a) About 1 cm3 of bromine water us added to the first test tube and the
mixture is shaken well.
(b) About 1 cm3 of acidified potassium manganate (VII) solution is added to
the second test tube and the mixture is shaken well.
9. All observations are recorded.

Observation

A: Preparation of Ethanol

Fermentation process

Activity Observation

Solution in the conical Lime water

flask
Start of activity

End of activity

Fractional distillation

Process Observation

Colour Smell

Fractional distillation
B: Chemical Properties of Ethanol

a) Combustion of Ethanol

Test Observation
Combustibility
Colour of flame
Sootiness of flame

b) Oxidation of Ethanol

Test on distillate Observation

Colour
Smell
Effect on litmus blue paper

c) Dehydration of Ethanol

Reagent Observation
Bromine water
Acidified potassium manganate (VII)
solution