Boiling Point, Refractive Index: Identification

of a Petroleum Hydrocarbon

Babatunde Ajiboye
Lab Partners: Peter Soliman, Ben Agyemang
Date Performed: October 27th, 2014

Observations
A small amount of the hydrocarbon sample, when added to a small
amount of water in a test tube and shaken, separated into two
distinct layers.
The observed barometric pressure was 758.95 torr, which is above
the standard value of 750, so we do not have to apply a correction
during calculation.
Boiling during the distillation process was first noted at 35C. The
final temperature recorded was 46C. The liquid in the 100 mL
round bottom flask was evaporated to dryness.
During Capillary-Tube BP measurement, bubbles started forming
vigorously at 60C. The temperature at which the liquid was
sucked in was 50C.
Refractive index measurement (1.445) took two tries, due to an
insufficient amount of sample on the first try. The temperature of
the sample was 24C.

Data
Unknown number: #4
Refractive Index: 1.445
Boiling Point Range: 50C - 60C
Actual Boiling Point: (50 + 60)/2 = 55C
Temperature: 24C
n = 0.00045(t 20.0)
ref ractiveindexcorrection = observedref ractiveindex + n
n = 0.00045(24.0 20.0) = 0.0018
ref ractiveindexcorrection = 1.445 + 0.0018 = 1.4468
Density Measurement
Mass of vial: 23.8237 g
Mass of vial + 1 mL sample: 24.5378 g
Mass of sample: (24.5378 - 23.8237) g = 0.7141 g
Density = mass/volume = 0.7141 g/ 1 mL = 0.7141 g/mL

Conclusion
Since the experiment consists of just boiling point analysis and
distillation, there were no reaction mechanisms.
The refractive index obtained was (compared to the values on the list of
possible compounds) relatively high, and the compound with the highest
refractive index according to the table of possible substances is
cyclohexane, with 1.4266. Our refractive index is 0.0202 higher than that.
Our calculated density was 0.7141 g/mL, which is close to the density
value of cyclopentane, which is 0.746 g/mL. Our refractive index is not far
off from the value of cyclopentane either, which is 1.4065. I therefore
conclude that the identity if the unknown substance is cyclopentane. If we
ran the boiling point test a second time, we may have obtained a more
accurate value, but the rubber band holding the tube to the thermometer
broke.

Exercises
1.

t = y(760 P )(273.1 + t)
t = 1.2 * 104(760 734)(273.1 + 78.2)
t = 1.096
correctedtemperature = 28 + 1.096 = 29.096 C
Temperature: 29.096C
n = 0.00045(t 20.0)
ref ractiveindexcorrection = observedref ractiveindex + n
n = 0.00045(29.096 20.0) = 0.0040932
ref ractiveindexcorrection = 1.3780 + 0.0040932 = 1.3821
mass of 0.200 mL = 0.133 g
density = 0.133 g/ 0.200 mL = 0.665 g/mL
identity: most likely 3-methylpentane

2.

3.

a) The boiling point would be lower than the actual value

b) The density would be higher than the actual value
c) The density would be lower than the actual value
d) The refractive index would be lower than the expected value

4.

No, it wouldnt be as harmful, seeing as it is denser than water.

Instead, the resulting layer would sink to the bottom of the body of
water. It would be disastrous for marine life, but the birds and
aquatic animals would be fine after a while.