Results

In this laboratory experiment, the experimenters identified whether compound A,

compound B, and compound C were alcohol or not through combustion, solubility test for
polar compound and nonpolar compound, and boiling point.

A. Combustion

The experimenters stroked a matchstick and light the 1 mL of liquid compounds that
was given to test which was transferred in an evaporating dish.

Compound Flame Flame Intensity Color of Flame Color of Smoke

A Flame was Moderate Orange No smoke
produced. produced.
B Flame was Low Top: Orange No smoke
produced. (dominant); produced.
Bottom: Blue
(very minimal).
C Flame was High Orange Black
produced.
Table 1: Observations for Combustion

As the figure from above, shows that all compounds produced flames. The flame
intensity of compound B was the lowest, compound A was the moderate, and compound C
was the highest. However, compound A and C have the same color of Flame; Orange and
since the compound B was the lowest, its top part of flame was orange (dominant) and the
bottom was blue (very minimal). Lastly, there was no smoke produced in compound A and B
while on compound C it was black and the color of the evaporating dish turned slightly dark
or blackish.

B. Solubility Test for Polar Compound

Transferred each compound in a labeled test tube. Shaken gently for 5 times and then
was shaken vigorously for 5 seconds. The experimenter’s waited for 5 minutes for each
compound to see if there was a layer being formed.

Compound Layer Nonpolar or Polar? Interpretation

A No layer formed. Polar Alcohol
B No layer formed. Polar Alcohol
C There was layer Nonpolar Not an alcohol.
formed.
Table 2: Observations on Solubility Test for Polar Compound
 Table 2 shows that the reaction of compound A and B has the same results. There are
no layers being formed, they are both polar, and alcohol. While in compound C, it has formed
a layer but it is nonpolar, and was not even an alcohol.

C. Solubility Test for Nonpolar Compound

The experimenters conducted solubility tests to determine whether compound A,

compound B, and compound C were soluble in hexane (C6H14), the solvent used in this
experiment. The experimenters also distinguished whether each compound was polar or
nonpolar.

Compound Layer Polar / Nonpolar

A No layer formed Nonpolar
B No layer formed Nonpolar
C No layer formed Nonpolar
Table 3: Observations on the Hexane Solubility Test for Nonpolar Compound

As indicated in Table 3, no layers were formed when compound A, compound B, and

compound D were mixed in separate test tubes with hexane. Therefore, compound A,
compound B, and compound C were all nonpolar.

D. Boiling Point

Ethanol has a boiling point of 78.37°C. To determine if compound A, compound B,

and compound C were alcohol or not, the experimenters monitored whether the compounds
boiled or completely evaporated below 78.37°C.

Compound Boiling Point Interpretation Alcohol

A Evaporated below Not an alcohol Proven to be not
78.37°C the ethanol
B Boiled at 78.37°C Alcohol Found to be the
ethanol
C Evaporated below Not an alcohol Proven to be not
78.37°C the ethanol
Table 4: Boiling Point Observations for Compounds A, B, and C

The results revealed that compound A and compound B evaporated below 78.37°C.
Accordingly, compounds A and B were not alcohols, and neither the ethanol. Compound B
boiled at 78.37°C, and ethanol is said to have a boiling point of 78.37°C. Therefore,
compound B is alcohol, specifically ethanol.

References