Organic Chemistry Lab

Tuesdays @ 1:30

Lab Experiment 25 Report

Abstract:
The purpose of this experiment was to observe the reactivitys of alkyl halides in
nucleophilic substitution. From this experiment we were able to learn that the reactions depend
on two important factors which are reaction conditions and substrate structure. Nucleophilic
substitution reactions occur when a nucleophile attaches to an electrophile and a leaving group

Denisse Cuarteros Chem 243A-005

Laboratory 6A: Hydrogenation

1.

For the hydrogenation reaction, which phases of matter are present, and which reaction
components are present in which phase?
The goal of the experiment is to turn methyl oleate (a liquid monounsaturated fatty acid) into
solid, through a process called catalytic hydrogenation by using Hydrogen gas (

) and a catalyst, 10% Pd/C which is a solid (metal) and is insoluble in the solvent used.
Hydrogenation is a very slow process unless theres a
catalyst that makes it possible to convert the unsaturated fatty acid into a saturated fatty acid
(methyl stearate) because it increases the rate of reaction by decreasing the activation energy
required. Catalytic hydrogenation is a type of heterogeneous reaction because different

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components of reaction are involved and are present in different phases such as solid, liquid, and
gas phases.

Results and calculations:

Pigment

Distance (mm)

Extract

100.83

Chlorophyll

59.69

Carotenoid

100.83

Solvent

142.24

Discussion:

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Calculation

Rf

Rf =

100.83
142.24

0.71

Rf =

59.69
142.24

0.42

Rf =

100.83
142.24

0.71

Rf =

142.24
142.24

1.00

Our plate showed a nice yellow band for the beta carotene but the chlorophyll in my
opinion could look better. The band for chlorophyll shows not only green but other colors
while the yellow band is nice and of a single color.
Questions:
1. The mechanism is as follows:
2. In order to solve this I used the ideal gas law. PV = nRT. When the equation is re-written

to solve for volume it yields the following: V =

V=

1 mol 0.08205 298.15 K

1 atm

25mL H2

1 mol H 2
24463 mL H 2

= 24.463L or 24463mL H2

= 0.001021952 mol H2

0.150 g product
0.001021952mol product

CxH2x = 14.02x : x =

nRT
P .

146.78
14.02

= 146.78 grams/mol product

= 10.44 = C10H20

The molecule that I came up with is Cyclodecane which has a molecular weight of
146.78 grams/mol and has the formula C10H20.
3. Cyclopentadiene is a five carbon ring that fits the C5H6 structure formula. It has two
double bonds that keep it stable. When this ring is reacted with 2 moles of H2 the ring
loses its double bonds and becomes cyclopentane.
4. Cyclohexene is a six carbon ring that fits the C6H10 structure formula. This ring has a

single double bond. When this ring is reacted with 1 mole of H2 the ring loses its double
bond and becomes cyclohexane.

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