NAME:

SCHEDULE:

EXPERIMENT:

HYDROCARBON- STRUCTURE AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Hydrocarbons can be classified as either aromatic or aliphatic compounds,

depending on the presence of a benzene ring. Aliphatic compounds can be divided into
alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes, based on the presence of double or triple bonds in the
chemical structure.

Saturated ones are those having a single bond between two carbon atoms or
with a hydrogen atom. Unsaturated ones are those which have either a double or triple
bond with two adjacent carbon atoms. Some basic saturated hydrocarbon examples are
methane and ethane. Unsaturated Hydrocarbon examples are Ethene and Ethyne.

Alkaline potassium permanganate test (Baeyer’s test)

In this test the pink colour potassium permanganate disappears when an alkaline potassium
permanganate is added to an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The disappearance of pink colour may take
place with or without the formation of brown precipitate of manganese oxide.

Note: Decolourization of pink colour of KMnO4 indicates unsaturation.

The chemical reaction is given below.

2KMnO4 + H2O → 2KOH + 2MnO2 + 3[O]

 -C=C- + H2O → -C(OH)-C(OH)- + KOH (Colourless).

Objectives:
1. To observe the properties of samples of hydrocarbons and relate them with their
classification and structures

Materials
1% NaOH test tubes test tube holder
0.1% KMnO4 pipettes test tube rack
Benzene
N-hexane
Cyclohexane
gasoline
Procedure:

Baeyer’s Test for Unsaturation:

1. Add a drop of 1% NaOH to 5ml of 0.1% KMnO4 to make the solution alkaline.
Set aside 1 ml of the prepared solution as standard. Use the rest as a reagent.

2. Place 10 drops of each of the following: sample in each of the test tubes.
Keep in the test tube rack
a. benzene
b. n-hexane
c. cyclohexane
d. gasoline
3. Note: Perform this in the hood. Add 15 drops of alkaline KMnO4 to each of
the test tubes. Compare the color formed in each test tube with the standard.
Avoid strong heat and light. *Present the result immediately to your
instructor
Name: Tan, Lorenzo River Paul M. Rating:
Rodriguez, Ericka Grace Teacher: Mr. Michael Magbitang
Hintay, Kyle Javon Date: Sept. 12, 2022
Padre, Denzhel John
Course/Yr/Sec: BSN1B
Group No.:
Data and Observations

Group 1

Test Sample Reagents Observation

Benzene Alkaline Potassium After letting the benzene

Permanganate solution to sit, the purple
alkaline potassium
permanganate changed its
color to brown.

Group 2

Test Sample Reagents Observation

Alkaline Potassium There were no notable
n-hexane
Permanganate changes that occurred when
the alkaline potassium
permanganate was added to
the test tube containing the n-
hexane sample.

Group 3

Test Sample Reagents Observation

Alkaline Potassium Even when given time to sit,
cyclohexane
Permanganate the alkaline potassium
permanganate and
cyclohexane solution had not
reacted for any notable
change to be observed.

Group 4

Test Sample Reagents Observation

Gasoline (optional)
Analysis and Interpretation:
1. How do you account for the observed reaction of the test
compounds in Baeyer’s test?
The positive result (the benzene sample) is due to the alkaline potassium
permanganate (potassium permanganate and sodium hydroxide solution) oxidizing the
double bonds found in the alkene. It works by replacing the bond between the carbon
atoms with bonds to a hydroxyl group, this gain is the loss of the alkaline potassium
permanganate’s hydrogen and oxygen atoms resulting in manganese oxide. This
manganese oxide has a brown color; thus, its production is what gives the brown color
of the positive test result. The Baeyer’s test showed negative for both n-hexane and
cyclohexane because they only contain single bonds, which are not reactive enough to
be oxidized by the alkaline potassium permanganate.

2. What generalization can you give regarding the process of

unsaturation?
Unsaturated hydrocarbons react to reagents because of the reactive nature of the
double and triple carbon to carbon bonds. They become oxidized to form new single
bonds from the former double or triple bond. Saturated hydrocarbons do not react much
with anything as the carbon atoms that serve as the foundation of the compound’s
structure have attained the octet rule with single bonds, single bonds are less reactive
than both double and triple bonds.