Identification of Phenol

1. FeCl3 test: In the aqueous solution of phenol when a few

drops of FeCl3 solution is added, violet solution
of diferrichexaphenate is formed which indicates the presence
of phenol.
6C6H5OH + 2FeCl3  (C6H5O)6Fe2 + 6HCl
Diferric hexaphenate (viloletsolution)

2. Bromine-water test: When red bromine-water is added to

phenol, white ppt. of 2,4,6-tribromophenol is formed.

3. Libermann test: Phenol is mixed with solid NaNO2 and conc.

H2SO4 and heated. As a result a green solution is produced. This
solution turns red on addition of water. Now excess caustic
soda solution is added. As a result the solution turns blue or
green.

Tollen’s Reagent
Two drops of 10% NaOH was added to 10 ml of 0.3 M aqueous silver nitrate and mixed
sufficiently. This was added slowly, together with shaking a dilute solution of ammonia
until the precipitate just dissolved. An excess of ammonia should be avoided. This is
Tollen’s Reagent.

Tollen’s Test for Aldehydes

Aldehyde

Sodium bicarbonate test:

Carboxylic acid group reacts with a solution of sodium bicarbonate with effervescence which
shows the evolution of CO2.

RCOOH+NaHCO3→RCOONa+H2O+CO2
Ferric Chloride Test for Carboxylic Acid
In order to complete this test, the ethanoic acid is first reacted with ammonium hydroxide and
the resultant ammonium acetate is then further reacted with ferric chloride.

CH3COOH+NH4OH→CH3COONH4+H2CH3COOH+NH4OH→CH3COONH4+H2O

The ammonium acetate so formed is put in warm bath where the ammonia vapor is lost to an
extent. Once the vapor is lost it is then reacted with ferric chloride. The resultant ferric acetate
formed is confirmed with the appearance of red hue colour.
CH3COONH4+FeCl3→(CH3COO)3Fe+NH4ClCH3COONH4+FeCl3→(CH3COO)3Fe+N
H4Cl