TEST FOR FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
I. TESTS FOR UNSATURATION:
EXPERIMENT
1.BROMINE WATER TEST:
To the given substance add a
drop of bromine water and
shake.
2.ALKALINE POTASSIUM
PERMANGANATE TEST:
Add alkaline potassium
permanganate (Baeyer’s
reagent) to the given substance.
3. SOOTY FLAME TEST:
Take a small amount of the
given substance in a nickel
spatula and heat.
RESULT: The given compound is an unsaturated compound.
OBSERVATION INFERENCE
Disappearance of brown Presence of unsaturation.
colour of bromine.
Pink colour decolourises Presence of unsaturation.
with or without the
formation of brown
coloured precipitate of
manganese dioxide.
Presence of unsaturation.
Substance burns with a
yellow flame with lots of
black smoke.
II TESTS FOR ALCOHOLS:

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1. SODIUM METAL TEST:
To a little of the given substance Brisk effervescence due Presence of alcoholic group.
in a dry test tube add about 1gm to liberation of hydrogen 2ROH + 2Na 2RONa + H2↑
of anhydrous CaSO4 & shake well gas is seen.
to remove water. Filter & add a
small piece of dry sodium metal.

2. ESTERIFICATION TEST:
To 1ml of given substance in A fruity smell is Presence of alcoholic group.
a dry test tube, add 1ml of glacial occurred due to the
acetic acid & 2-3 drops of formation of an ester. CH3COOH + ROH 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐. 𝐻2𝑆𝑂4→ CH3COOR
concentrated sulphuric acid. + H2O
Warm the solution mixture on a
water bath for about 10min. Pour
it into to a beaker containing
water and smell.

3. CERIC AMMONIUM
NITRATE TEST:
To the little of the given Appearance of red or Presence of alcoholic group.
substance, add a few drops of pink colouration. 2ROH + (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6
(ROH)2Ce(NO3)4 + 2NH4NO3
ceric ammonium nitrate reagent
and shake well. Pink or red

4. Lucas Reagent test:

To 1ml of the given substance in a No turbidity Presence of primary alcohol

dry test tube add 8-10 drops of
Lucas reagent.

RESULT:
The given compound is a saturated primary alcohol.
III. TESTS FOR PHENOL:

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1. LITMUS
TEST: Blue litmus turns red. Phenol may be present.
Introduce moist
blue litmus paper
into the given
substance taken
in a test tube.

2. NEUTRAL
FERRIC Violet colour is produced on Presence of phenol.
CHLORIDE dilution. FeCl3 + 6C6H5OH →[Fe (OC6H5)6]3- + 3HCI
Violet complex
TEST:
Add few drops
of neutral ferric
chloride to the
given substance.

3.
LIBERMANN’
S TEST:
a) To the given Deep blue or deep green colour Presence of phenol.
substance add appears.
2-3 crystals of On dilution red colour appears.
Sodium Nitrite.
Heat gently and
allow it to cool.
Then add few
drops of conc.
H2SO4 & shake
the test tube to
mix the contents.

b) To the
above Blue or green colour appears.
Presence of phenol.
obtained
contents add
an excess of
sodium
hydroxide
solution.

RESULT: The given compound is a saturated phenol.

IV. TESTS FOR ALDEHYDE:

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1. 2,4-DNP TEST:
Dissolve the given Orange precipitate Presence of aldehyde or ketone.
substance with alcohol obtained
in a dry test tube.
Then add few drops of
2,4-DNP solution.
Cork the test tube,
shake the mixture and
allow it to stand for 5
min.

Presence of aldehyde or ketone.

2. SODIUM White crystalline
BISULPHITE TEST: precipitate is
A little of the obtained.
substance is added to
2ml of saturated
solution of sodium White crystalline ppt
bisulphite. Cork the
test tube, shake and
leave it for 15-20
minutes.

3. TOLLEN’S Presence of aldehyde

REAGENT TEST: A shiny silver
Add little of the mirror on the walls RCHO + 2 [Ag(NH3)2]+ + 3OH- RCOO- + 2Ag +
substance into 1ml of the test tube is 4NH3 + 2H2O Silver mirror
Tollen’s reagent taken obtained
in a test tube and
warm the test tube on
a water bath for about
5 min.

4. FEHLING TEST:
Take 1ml each of Appearance of red Presence of aldehyde.
Fehling’s solution A precipitate. RCHO + 2Cu2+ + 5OH- RCOO- + Cu2O
and B in a test tube
+ 3H2O Red ppt
and add 1ml of the
given substance.
Warm the test tube in
hot water bath for 4-5
minutes.
 5. SCHIFF’S TEST: Appearance of
To 1ml of the given pink or red colour Presence of aldehyde
substance add alcohol solution.
and then add 1ml of
Schiff’s reagent.

RESULT:

The given compound is saturated Aldehyde.

V. TESTS FOR KETONES

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1. 2,4-DNP TEST:
Dissolve the given Orange precipitate Presence of aldehyde or ketone.
substance with alcohol in a obtained
dry test tube. Then add few
drops of 2,4-DNP solution.
Cork the test tube, shake
the mixture and allow it to
stand for 5 min.

2. SODIUM
BISULPHITE TEST: Presence of aldehyde or ketone.
A little of the substance is White crystalline
added to 2ml of saturated precipitate is
solution of sodium obtained.
bisulphite. Cork the test
White crystalline ppt
tube, shake and leave it for
15-20 minutes.

3. SODIUM Presence of ketone.

NITROPRUSSIDE TEST:
To 1ml of sodium
nitroprusside solution, add
few drops of the given
substance. Shake and add
sodium hydroxide solution
drop wise.
CH3COCH3 + OH- CH3 COCH2- + H2O
Red coloured
solution is obtained [Fe (CN)5NO]2- + CH3COCH2-
Nitroprusside ion [Fe (CN)5NO.CH3COCH2]3-
Red colouration

RESULT: The given compound is a saturated Ketone.

VI. TESTS FOR CARBOXYLIC ACID:

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1. LITMUS TEST:
Introduce moist blue litmus Blue litmus turns red. Carboxylic acid may be
paper into the given substance present.
taken in a test tube.

2.SODIUM BICARBONATE
TEST:
To the given substance add a
pinch of sodium bicarbonate
solution.
Brisk effervescence is seen. Presence of carboxylic acid.
RCOOH + NaHCO3
RCOONa + H2O + CO2

RCOONa + H2O + CO2

3.ESTERIFICATION TEST:
To 1ml of given substance in a Fruity smell is observed. Presence of carboxylic acid.
dry test tube, add 1ml of CH3COOH + ROH 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐. 𝐻2𝑆𝑂4→
ethanol & 2-3 drops of CH3COOR + H2O
concentrated sulphuric acid.
Warm the solution mixture on
a water bath for about 10min.
Pour it into to a beaker
containing water and smell.

RESULT:

The given compound is a saturated carboxylic acid.

VII. TESTS FOR AMINES:

EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION INFERENCE

1.SOLUBILITY:
To the given substance add 2-3 The compound dissolves. Presence of amino group.
ml of dilute hydrochloric acid
and shake.

2. LITMUS TEST:
Place a drop of the given liquid Red litmus turns blue. Presence of amino group.
on the moist red litmus paper
and note the change in colour.

3.CARBYLAMINE TEST:
Take a small amount of solid Unpleasant odour is Presence of primary amino group.
potassium hydroxide and add 2 obtained RNH2 + CHCl3 + 3KOH (alcoholic) →
ml of ethyl alcohol. Warm the RNC (isocyanide, unpleasant odour) + 3KCl +
3H2O
test tube until KOH dissolves.
Then add a few ml of
chloroform to it and warm
gently.

4. AZO DYE TEST:

To the given substance in a test Formation of orange-red Presence of primary aromatic amino
tube add 2ml of dilute dye. group.
hydrochloric acid, cool it in ice
bath. Take aqueous solution of
sodium nitrite in second test
tube and keep it in ice bath. In
the third test tube take β-
naphthol and dissolve in sodium
hydroxide and keep it ice bath
for some time. Add the content
of test tube 2 to test tube 1 and
the resulting solution is added to
the test tube 3.

RESULT:

The given compound is a primary aromatic amine.