Organic reactions - how do they happen (AS)
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I am doing an investigation into finding the identities of an organic compound. I need to know how to test for an alkane and a halogenoalkane. I also need to know how to measure boiling points for alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and halogenoalkanes.
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Igloo writes ...
There is no straightforward method to test for an alkane.
To test for a halogenoalkane, a small sample can be warmed with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, using a hot water bath. After five minutes or so, the contents can be cooled down and made acidic using dilute nitric acid. Finally, a few drops of aqueous silver nitrate can be added. A white, cream or yellow precipitate shows that silver chloride, silver bromide or silver iodide have been formed, and this implies that the original organic compound must have been a halogenoalkane.
The boiling point of a liquid is easily measured by heating the liquid under reflux using a distillation flask fitted with a side arm and thermometer.
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updated: 13 April 2008
