Classification Test for

Functional Groups (Aromatic

hydrocarbons)
Experiment No. 9a
AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

• Aromatic compounds are ring structures with unusual

stability due to delocalized pi electron density that is
shared between all of the carbon atoms in the ring.

• Most aromatic hydrocarbons contain a benzene ring.

AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

• Benzene, C6H6, contains a flat ring of six carbon atoms

joined by bonds which are intermediate in character
between single and double bonds. The benzene ring is
usually indicated by
AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

• Aromatic compounds are cyclic compounds in which all

ring atoms participate in a network of ππ bonds, resulting
in unusual stability.

• Aromatic compounds are less reactive than alkenes,

making them useful industrial solvents for nonpolar
compounds.
 • To know the different chemical test of
aromatic hydrocarbons.
Learning
Outcomes • To Show the chemical equations involved
in classifying tests.
EXPERIMENTAL
PROCEDURE
A. Test for Aromaticity

Aromaticity is a property of conjugated

cycloalkenes in which the stabilization of the
molecule is enhanced due to the ability of the
electrons in the pi orbitals to delocalize.
A.1. Nitration of Benzene

• Nitration happens when one (or more) of the

hydrogen atoms on the benzene ring is replaced by
a nitro group, NO2.

• Benzene is treated with a mixture of concentrated

nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid at a
temperature not exceeding 50°C.
A.1. Nitration of Benzene

• The mixture is held at this temperature for about

half an hour. Yellow oily nitrobenzene is formed.

Benzene Nitric acid Nitrobenzene

A.1. Nitration of Benzene

• The mixture is held at this temperature for about

half an hour. Yellow oily nitrobenzene is formed.

Nitrobenzene
B. Ignition Test

• Most hydrocarbons burn over a flame since carbon

and hydrogen react with oxygen to produce carbon
dioxide and water.
B. Ignition Test

• The ignition test was performed in essence that

high carbon to hydrogen ratio equates to high
luminosity. A high degree of luminosity accounts
for the luminous flame, an orange flame which
may produce soot.
B. Ignition Test

• Aromatic compounds, such as benzene and toluene

(refer to figure 4), burn with sooty flame due to
incomplete combustion causing the formation of an
unburned carbon.

• Complete combustion is indicated by a non-

luminous flame which is a blue flame. It produces
more heat than light; hence the carbon is
completely oxidized.
TEST SAMPLES OBSERVATION
Benzene No soot
Hexane Formation of soot
Aniline Formation of soot
Phenol Formation of soot
C. Reaction with Aluminum Chloride/
Chloroform

• An alkyl group can be added to a benzene molecule by an

electrophile aromatic substitution reaction called
the Friedel‐Crafts alkylation reaction. 

Benzene Chloroform Triphenylmethane

C. Reaction with Aluminum Chloride/
Chloroform

• Benzene reacts at room temperature with a chloroalkane

(for example, chloromethane or chloroform) in the
presence of aluminum chloride as a catalyst.

Benzene Chloroform Triphenylmethane

C. Reaction with Aluminum Chloride/
Chloroform

• Aromatic compounds and their derivatives usually

give characteristic colors when they come into
contact with a mixture of aluminum chloride and
chloroform. Generally, nonaromatic compounds do
not produce a color on the AlCl3.
C. Reaction with Aluminum Chloride/
Chloroform

These color effects may be summarized as follows:

Compound Class Color

Benzene derivatives Orange to red
Naphthalene Blue
Biphenyl or phenanthrene Purple
Anthracene Green
TEST SAMPLES COLOR REACTION
Benzene orange
Toluene orange
Chlorobenzene orange
Hexane -
Thank you!