A COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION ON ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Alyssa D. Padilla, Khrystine Pang, Xyra M. Phillips, Kyle A. Sangalang, Isabelle L.

Sarrosa and Mikhail S. Supe

Group 6 2A Pharmacy Inorganic and Organic Chemistry Laboratory

ABSTRACT

The objective of the experiment is to differentiate organic compounds in terms of certain

intrinsic physical properties, their behaviour towards ignition, and infrared spectra of their
functional groups. The physical properties of organic compounds were identified by
observing their physical state, appearance, color, and odor at room temperature. Solubility
tests were done by using the 3 reagents: water, 5% sodium hydroxide solution, and 5%
hydrochloric acid solution. Dichloromethane appeared to be immiscible in the 3 reagents
and ethanol appeared to be miscible in the 3 reagents while the other compounds had
varying results. Red and blue litmus papers were used to determine the acidity or basicity of
each sample compound. All compounds were not able to change the color of the red and
blue litmus papers, which means they are neutral except for benzoic acid and phenol that
were found to be acidic and slightly acidic. Ignition test was done to determine whether the
compound is flammable or non-flammable. All compounds were found to be flammable
except for dichloromethane, phenol, benzoic acid and ethylamine. Infrared analysis was
conducted to determine the type of principal bond present in the compounds by finding the
IR peaks of each sample. In conclusion, each organic compound has their own unique
properties which are determined by the type of bond and functional groups present in their
structure.

INTRODUCTION hydrocarbons are also known as saturated

hydrocarbons because they only contain
Organic compounds contain one or more single bonds in a straight chain. Organic
carbons attached or linked to common compounds that contain more than one
elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, or bond are called unsaturated
nitrogen. They range from simple hydrocarbons.
substances that are made up of two or a
few elements to long, complex polymers Organic compounds have different
that include many elements. properties and the goal of this experiment
is to differentiate the organic compounds
The four types of organic compounds in terms of intrinsic physical properties,
are hydrocarbons, lipids, proteins, and their behaviour towards ignition, and
nucleic acids. The main focus of this infrared spectra of their functional groups.
experiment is hydrocarbons. The condensed structural formula of the
Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic organic compounds are as follows:
compounds.
1. Cyclohexane
Organic molecules are based on carbon-
carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds
framework. Compounds that contain only
carbon and hydrogen are called
hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons that contain
a ring with alternating double bonds are
called aromatic hydrocarbons. Those
organic compounds that contain only
single bonds in a straight chain are called
aliphatic hydrocarbons. Aliphatic
2. DCM 7. Ethylamine

EXPERIMENTAL
3. Ethanol
A. Test Compound/s (or Sample/s
used)

Cyclohexane, DCM, Ethanol, Phenol,

Benzoic acid, Ethyl acetate, Ethylamine

B. Procedure
1. Physical State, Color, and Odor
4. Phenol
The physical state, appearance, and
color of the samples were noted and
observed at room temperature.

2. Solubility Properties

For each liquid sample, 4 drops of the

liquid were placed in a test tube and each
solvent was added dropwise until it
became a total of 3 mL liquid. For each
solid sample, 0.1 grams of the sample was
used and each solvent was also added in a
5. Benzoic acid
dropwise manner. Any color changes,
warming, or effervescence was noted. The
solubility of the samples in each solvent to
determine whether they are miscible or
immiscible was noted.

3. Reaction with Litmus Paper

Drops of the liquid sample was placed in

red and blue litmus papers to test their
aqueous solution. Color changes in both
litmus papers for each liquid sample were
noted.
6. Ethyl acetate
4. Ignition Test

In a small evaporating dish, 3-5 drops

of the liquid sample was placed and was lit
with a match. A pinch amount of the
sample was used for the solid sample. The
flame produced in flammable compounds
was noted.
5. Infrared (IR) analysis
The type of principal bond present in
each sample compound was identified by
using the appendix of the laboratory
manual book as a guide.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The liquid compounds were all clear and
colorless except for phenol, which has a
reddish orange color. The only solid
compound in this experiment is benzoic
acid. The odors of each compound had
unique characteristics which can be seen
in table 1.
Solubility test was done to each
compound to determine their chemical
nature and miscibility. Water, 5% sodium
hydroxide solution, and 5% hydrochloric
acid solution were used as reagents to
determine the solubility of each
compound. Based on the results,
cyclohexane, ethanol, benzoic acid, and
ethylamine were miscible in water. Only
phenol was slightly miscible in water. DCM
and ethyl acetate were immiscible in
water. Compounds that were found
miscible in 5% sodium hydroxide solution
are ethanol, phenol (from orange to
violet), and ethylamine. Cyclohexane and
benzoic acid were slightly immiscible in
5% sodium hydroxide solution. DCM and
ethyl acetate were found to be immiscible
in 5% sodium hydroxide solution. The
compounds that were miscible in 5%
hydrochloric acid solution are ethanol,
phenol (orange to white), benzoic acid,
ethyl acetate, and ethylamine. Only DCM
was immiscible in 5% hydrochloric acid
solution.
acidic. Phenol was placed in blue and red
litmus papers and the blue paper changed
to a reddish blue color but the red paper
did not change its color, which means it is
slightly acidic.
Ignition test was done to each
compound to determine whether they are
flammable or not. The result of ignition
test indicates the presence of unsaturation
or high carbon to hydrogen ratio.
Cyclohexane, ethanol, and ethyl acetate
were flammable. Cyclohexane had a
yellow-orange color, ethanol had blue and
orange colors, and ethyl acetate had a
luminous yellow color. DCM, phenol,
benzoic acid, and ethylamine were non-
flammable.
Infrared analysis is useful for identifying
the type of bonds present in a molecule.
In conclusion, all organic compounds have
their own unique properties which are
determined by the type of bond present in
their structure. Its primary use is to
identify the functional groups present in a
molecule.
In conclusion, all organic compounds
have their own unique properties which
are determined by the type of bond and
functional groups present in their
structure.

Drops of the samples were placed in red

and blue litmus papers to determine
whether they are acidic, basic, or neutral.
All the compounds were not able to
change the color of the red and blue
litmus papers, which means they are
neutral except for benzoic acid and
phenol. Benzoic acid was placed in blue
and red litmus papers and the blue paper
changed to a red color but the red paper
did not change its color, which means it is
REFERENCES

[1] Whitten, Davis, Peck, Stanley (2014)

Chemistry 10th edition. Congage Learning.
P. 889-880.

[2] Organic Compound. (n.d.) Retrieved

November 10, 2018, from
https://www.britannica.com/science/orga
nic-compound

[3] What is an Organic Compound (n.d.)

Retrieved November 10, 2018, from
https://sciencing.com/what-is-an-organic-
compound-13712143.html

From the internet

[1] Organic Compound. (n.d.) Retrieved

November 10, 2018, from
https://www.britannica.com/science/orga
nic-compound

[2] What is an Organic Compound (n.d.)

Retrieved November 10, 2018, from
https://sciencing.com/what-is-an-organic-
compound-13712143.html
 Table 1. Comparative Investigation of Organic Compounds

Test Cyclohexane DCM Ethanol Phenol Benzoic Ethyl Ethylamine

Compounds acid acetate
Physical state Liquid Liquid Liquid Liquid Solid Liquid Liquid
at RT
Appearance Clear Clear Clear Clear Crystalline Clear Clear
Color Colorless Colorless Colorless Red orange White Colorless Colorless
Odor Diesel-like Kerosene- Alcohol-like Burnt Odorless Plastic Fishy-like
odor like odor odor plastic-like balloon odor
odor odor
Solubility in
H2O Miscible Immiscible Miscible Slightly Miscible Immiscib Miscible
5% NaOH miscible le
soln. Slightly Immiscible Miscible Miscible: Slightly Immiscib Miscible
5% HCl soln. miscible orange to miscible le
violet
Slightly Immiscible Miscible Miscible: Miscible Miscible Miscible
miscible orange to
white
Reaction with Blue to blue Blue to Blue to Blue to red Acidic Neutral Neutral
litmus paper Red to red blue blue Red to red
Red to red Red to red
Ignition test Flammable: Non- Flammable: Non- Non- Yellow, Non-
yellow-orange flammable blue and flammable flammable luminous flammable
orange ,
flammab
le
Observed C-C stretch: C-Cl:580- O-H O-H C=C ar. C=O C-H stretch:
principal IR 1200-800, 780, S stretch: stretch: stretch: stretch: 3000-2840, S
peaks (𝒄𝒎−𝟏 )* very W C-C 3700-3100, 3700-3100, 1620-1480, 1740- C-H bend:
C-H bend: stretch: very S very S M-W 1710, S 1475-1350,
1435-1350, S- 1200-800, O-H bend: O-H bend: C-H C-O S-M
M very W 1420-1340, 1420-1340, stretch: stretch: C-C stretch:
C-H stretch: C-H M-W M-W 3100-3000, 1245- 1200-800,
3000-2840, S stretch: C-O C-O M-W 1190 very W
3000-2840, stretch: stretch: O-H C-H N-H stretch:
S 1230-1000, 1230- stretch: stretch: 3500-3300 &
S-M 1000,S-M 3300-2500, 3000- 3400-4200, S
C-H C=C ar. broad S 2840, S N-H bend:
stretch: stretch: O-H bend: C-H 1640-1560, S
3000-2840, 1620-1480, 1440-1390, bend: N-H bend:
S M-W M 1475- 900-650,
C-H bend: C-C C=O 1350, S- broad M
1475-1350, stretch: stretch: M
S-M 900-600, 1730-1680, C-C
S-M S stretch:
C-H C-O 1200-
stretch: stretch: 800,
3100-3000, 1320-1210, very W
M-W S
*S = strong, M = medium, W = weak