Experiment #13

Presumptive Test for Inflammable Substances

I. Objective
Learn the proper technique employed in the initial identification of inflammable
substances.

II. Apparatus/Materials
Tirril burner, hard glass test tube, test tube holder, beaker, spatula, applicator stick,
Sudan or Rhodokrit powder, kerosene, chloroform, methanol, glycerine, gasoline, and
wa.ter

III. Procedure
1. Sudan Solubility test
1.1. Add a pinch of Sudan powder in each of the six (6) depression of a spot plate
containing 3 ml of different liquids.
1.2. Record and illustrate your observations.

2. Sudan Test
2.1. Place a quantity of ashes and debris which are contaminated with kerosene to a
hard test tube using a spatula.
2.2. Heat the test tube with the sample over the flame of a tirril burner.
2.3. Make sure that there is equal heating by swaying the tube over the flame.

2.4. When the sample in the test tube is already heated, introduce at the mouth of
the test tube an applicator stick which is dipped in a beaker containing Sudan powder.
2.5. Follow the same procedure for the other test samples.
 2.6. Record and illustrate your observations.

IV. Observation

Data and Results

Sudan Solubility Test
Test Samples Sudan Solubility Test Interpretation

1)Kerosene
2)Chloroform
3)Methanol
4)Glycerin
5)Gasoline
6)Water

1. What is the color of the Sudan or Rhodokrit powder?

2. What appears when the applicator stick with Sudan powder is introduced at the
mouth of the heated test tube containing ashes and debris, and contaminated with
kerosene and other inflammable liquids?

3. What does this result indicate?

4. What happens when the sample of ashes and debris which are contaminated with
water is subjected to Sudan test?

5. What does this result indicate?

V. Post Laboratory Discussion
Guide Questions

1. Why does the Sudan or Rhodokrit powder change in physical appearance

when exposed to the fumes coming from the test tube containing traces of
inflammable liquids?

2. What happens to the Rhodokrit powder when introduced tothe heated sample
inside the test tube?

3. What are the substances that are extracted from the ashes and debris when
the test tube,which contains them,is heated over the flame?

4. Do you consider glycerin as an inflammable liquid? Explain.

5. Enumerate other inflammable substances that may be used by the arsonists.

VI. Conclusion

VII. Illustration

VIII. Documentation