Experiment 6: ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS Borja, Alexandra J.

Salvedia, Kristine ABSTRACT

Chem 31.1 MEJ - Sir Yevgeny Dulla March 4, 2013

Identifying elements in an organic compound is made possible by conducting methods of elemental analysis. Other than commonly present elements like carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, nitrogen, halogens and sulphur can be determined as well. This experiment employs the sodium fusion technique and inorganic qualitative analysis tests to trace the elements nitrogen, sulphur and halogens (i.e. chlorine, bromine and iodine). Results provided that sulfanilic acid tested positive for sulphur and nitrogen tests and p-chloroaniline tested positive for nitrogen and halogen tests. Only glucose (C6H12O6) tested negative for all three tests. KEYWORDS: elemental analysis, sodium fusion, nitrogen test, sulphur test, halogen test, fusion solution, sodium nitroprusside INTRODUCTION Elemental analysis is an array of tests applied to determine and quantify elements in a given organic compound. The sodium fusion technique by Jean Louis Lassaigne is used to detect elemental halogens, nitrogen and sulphur in compounds. So why use sodium? It is because sodium is a highly reducing agent that can convert atoms covalently bonded to the carbon chain into inorganic ions. The process employs fusing an unknown organic compound with metallic sodium at high temperatures to produce water-soluble inorganic compounds (NaCN, Na2S and NaX [X=Cl, Br r I]), which will then be dissolved in water. Followed by inorganic qualitative tests for the corresponding ions follows, the presence of discoloration, precipitation and evolution of gas will then determine the traced elements. METHODOLOGY A. Sodium Fusion A small piece of sodium in a 5 ml test tube is heated in a Bunsen burner. When condensation of sodium vapour in the test tube is observed, remove it from the flame, add 0.3 grams of the unknown and heat the tube again until the mixture starts to turn red-hot after 3 minutes since boiling. Afterwards, immediately drop the test tube in a beaker containing 10 ml of distilled water. Take note that upon contact with water, the test tube will shatter and the excess sodium will be released. When the reaction subsides, boil the solution in the beaker for about 2 minutes then filter it afterwards. Use the filtrate as a test solution for inorganic qualitative analysis (nitrogen test, sulphur test and halogen test). B. Qualitative Analysis 1. Sulfur Test Put 5 drops of the fusion solution and 3 drops of H2O in a 5 ml test tube, followed by 2 drops of 2% aqueous sodium nitroprusside or Na2[Fe(CN)5NO].2H2O. A deep blue-violet color is indicative of the presence of sulphur. 2. Nitrogen Test Mix a pinch of FeSO4 and 1 ml of the fusion solution in a test tube followed by 5 drops of 10% KF solution. Boil the mixture for 5 seconds and add 2 drops of 5% FeCL 3 solution. Finally, add 6M H2SO4 to dissolve insoluble iron hydroxides and convert the solution from acid to litmus. A deep blue precipitate (Prussian blue) is indicative of the presence of nitrogen. If the blue color of the precipitate cannot be determined, filter the mixture and wash the filter paper with distilled water. Check the blue coloration of the residue. 3. Halogen Test Add 10 drops of fusion solution in the test tube then acidify by adding 2M HNO3. Gently boil it for about a minute to eliminate HCN or H2S that may be present then cool it to room temperature. Add 4 drops of 0.1M AgNO3 to the fusion solution. Proof of the presence of halogens is a heavy curd-type precipitate (AgCl white; AgBr pale yellow; AgI - yellow). The test is negative

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for a faint turbidity. Differences in solubility can differentiate AgBr from AgI. Just add 0.5 ml of 2M NH4OH and then stir. A solution solube to said solvent indicates AgBr; if not, AgI is present.

a. Oxygen FERROX TEST

Mix methanol and equal

DATA AND RESULTS Table 1. Qualitative Tests for the Unknowns Sample Unknown 1 (Glucose) Unknown 2 (pchloroaniline) Unknown 3 (Sulfanilic acid) DISCUSSION Table 2. SULFUR TEST: Experimental vs. Theoretical Observation Sample p-chloroaniline Sulfanilic acid Glucose Experimental yellow Dark violet White solution Theoretical No change Dark violet No change Sulfur Test + Nitrogen Test + + Halogen Test +

amounts of KCNS and FeCL3 Soak the solution in filter paper Distribution of the complex ion (FeCNS2+) will occur between the filter paper and the test compound. Observe the deep-red color of the solution, indicative of the presence of oxygen. Nonoxygen compounds remain colorless. WINKLER METHOD Manganese (II) sulphate (48% of the total volume) is added to an environmental water sample. Add potassium iodide (15% in potassium hydroxide). Pinkishbrown precipitate will occur. The dissolved oxygen in the alkaline solution will oxidize Mn2+ to Mn3+. Acidify the solution to precipitate the iodide ion into elemental iodine. Free iodine forms a complex with excess iodide ions. Use thiosulfate to titrate (reduce) the iodine/iodide complex to iodide again.

Table 3. NITROGEN TEST: Experimental vs. Theoretical Observation Sample p-chloroaniline Sulfanilic acid Glucose Experimental yellow blue White solution Theoretical blue blue No change

b. Phosphorous Dip nickel chromium loop in the organic compound. Apply flame test. Filter out the yellow sodium with a blue cobalt glass. The presence of a pale bluish green color indicates phosphorous. La Motte Model (a garden soil testing kit) Fill the test tube to line 6 with phosphorous extracting solution. Use the 0.5 g spoon to add 3 measures of the sample

Table 4. HALOGEN TEST: Experimental vs. Theoretical Observation Sample p-chloroaniline Sulfanilic acid Glucose Experimental Heavy curdy ppt. Black ppt. No ppt. Theoretical White ppt. (for chlorine) No ppt. No ppt.

ANSWERS TO GUIDE QUESTIONS 1. Outline the procedures for detecting the presence of oxygen and phosphorous in organic compounds

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Secure it with lid and shake for about 1 minute Remove the lid and allow the soil to settle thoroughly. Use a pipet to transfer the liquid to another test tube. Put 6 drops of the phosphorous indicator reagent to sample extract in that test tube. Cover again and shake. Add one phosphorous tablet. Cover and shake well until the tablet dissolves. There should be a blue color. Match the acquired color with the phosphorous color chart.

ions. The insoluble cuprous cyanide is then filtered. When the cyanide ion is converted to FeCNS2+, a red color is formed. The reaction follows.

c.

Halogen Test Beilstein Test involves the production of CuX2 (copper halide) when an organic halide is strongly heated with a copper oxide. The product will give off a blue-green light when heated. The reaction follows:

2. Discuss other methods of detecting the presence of sulphur, nitrogen and halogens in organic compounds. a. Sulfur Test Schniger Oxidation by Wolfgang Schniger involves the combustion of the organic compound in pure oxygen. A solution of sodium hydroxide then absorbs the combustion products. This test is conducted in a separatory funnel or in an Erlenmeyer flask. This method also identifies oxygen and nitrogen. The equation involved in this technique is as follows:

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Detection of elements found in organic compounds aside from carbon and hydrogen is possible through methods of elemental analysis, including nitrogen, sulphur, halogens and even oxygen and phosphorous. Sodium fusion technique with inorganic qualitative tests is used to determine nitrogen, sulphur and halogens chlorine, bromine and iodine. Tests have shown that p-chloroaniline is positive for nitrogen and halogen tests (i.e. chlorine); sulfanilic acid tests positive for nitrogen and sulphur; and glucose tests negative for all three tests. To ensure safety, students are strictly advised to take precaution when handling the reagents, especially since most of them are very toxic. When conducting sodium fusion, avoid sodium having contact with water because their reaction is highly exothermic. Also, since a shattered test tube is inevitable in this experiment, make use of a cheap one for ease in its breakage.

b. Nitrogen Test Soda Lime Test or Will Varentrop Method involves compounds which contain nitrogen liberating ammonia upon heating with soda lime. The liberated ammonia will be indicated in the litmus paper or with HCl. Benzidine Test involves the presence of cyanide ions. Benzidine is oxidized to induce the benzidine blue color. It was the curpric ions that effected oxidation the strength of said ions was greatly reduced by the cuprous

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REFERENCES The Philippines Organic Chemistry Teachers Association. (1988). Qualitative Tests for Elements in Organic Compounds, 1 7. Qualitative Analysis of Organic Compounds (Sodium Fusion Test or Lassaigne Test). Retrieved from <http://www.1chemistry.blogspot.com/2011/12/ qualitative-analysis-of-organic.html> Phosphorus Test. Retrieved from <http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/kswater/images/pho sphorus.htm > Identifications of Uknown Qualitative Elemental Analysis. Retrieved from <http://faculty.swosu.edu/william.kelly/pdf/qo2a .pdf > I hereby certify that I have given substantial contribution to this report. __________________ BORJA, Alexandra

__________________ SALVEDIA, Kristine

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