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Lassainge Test
Lassainge Test
This experiment is designed for this course to make the student capable-
Course 126: Exp No-04
➢The objective of this experiment is to detect the presence of nitrogen, sulphur, and
➢In this experiment, organic compounds are fused with metallic sodium to convert the
Course 126: Exp No-04
elements (N, S, X) into water soluble sodium salt. As we know, organic compounds are non-polar
and insoluble in water so, to make it polar and to form soluble ion, sodium fusion method is
used. Then prepared ionic solution (ions) react with respective reagents to detect elements such
as nitrogen, sulphur and halogens.
➢There are several ways to detect element in organic compounds such as spectroscopic
analysis, elemental analysis etc. But these techniques are expensive and time consuming. On the
other hand, by using Lassaigne test we can identify nitrogen, sulphur and halogens present in
organic compounds easily. This is inexpensive and can detect element within a short time.
Detection of Nitrogen:
If nitrogen is present in the compound, the Lassaigne's extract would contain sodium cyanide
formed during fusion. Sodium cyanide is converted to sodium ferrocyanide on treating with
ferrous sulphate. On further treating it with ferric chloride, a prussian blue complex,
ferricferrocyanide is formed.
Fuse
Na + C + N NaCN
(From organic compound)
FeSO4 + 2 NaOH Fe(OH)2 + Na2SO4
Green ppt
Fe(OH)2 + 2 NaCN Fe(CN)2 + 2NaOH
(From Sodium extract)
Prussian Blue Colour
Detection of Sulphur
1. Sodium nitroprusside test
During the preparation of Lassaigne's extract, sulphur from the organic compound reacts
with sodium to form sodium sulphide. It gives a purple colour with sodium nitroprusside
due to the formation of sodium thionitroprusside.
Chlorine:
Course 126: Exp No-04
During the preparation of Lassaigne's extract, chlorine form the organic compound reacts with
sodium to form sodium chloride. Sodium chloride gives a white precipitate of silver chloride with
silver nitrate solution. The precipitate is soluble in ammonium hydroxide.
b. Bromine
Sodium bromide formed during the preparation of Lassaigne's
extract reacts with silver nitrate to form pale yellow precipitate
of silver bromide, which is sparingly soluble in ammonium
hydroxide.
c. Iodine
Sodium iodide formed during the preparation of sodium fusion
extract reacts with silver nitrate solution to form yellow
precipitate of silver iodide, which is insoluble in ammonium
hydroxide.
Procedure:
Course 222: Exp No-04
➢ At first, take a small oil free sodium metal in a dry fusion tube.
➢ Add very little amount of supplied organic sample to the sodium metal into the fusion tube.
➢ Then burn this fusion tube with sodium and sample properly up to make it red color.
➢After burning properly, put it in a mortal with small amount of water and make it powder (in
solution) with pestle.
➢ Then filter this solution by using a filter paper.
➢ Keep this filtrate as stock solution.
This stock solution will be used for detecting nitrogen, sulfur and halogen.
fuse
Organic compounds containing N,S,X + Na (metal) NaCN/ Na2S/ NaSCN/ NaX
Experiment :
(Video)
Positive Positive
Procedure:
➢Take 1-2 mL of the stock solution
➢ Add 2-3 drops of freshly prepared sodium nitropruside solution.
Procedure:
➢ Take 1 or 2 mL of stock solution in a test tube and boil the solution for about 1 minute
➢ Add 2-3 drops of FeCl3 solution.
Reddish brown/Red
Observation: Reddish brown/Red precipitate was observed.
precipitate of ferric
Inference: Positive (Nitrogen & sulphur present). thiocyanate
➢ Acidify a portion of the stock solution with dilute nitric acid, boil until it has been reduced to
half of its original volume.
➢ Cool and add 1% silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution.
➢ A heavy white precipitate indicates the presence of chloride, pale yellow indicates presence
bromide and yellow indicates presence of iodide in the supplied sample.
White ppt
After forming precipitate, add dilute ammonia solution to the precipitate (ppt). If the ppt is
white and readily soluble in ammonia solution, chloride is present. If it is pale yellow and
sparingly soluble in conc. ammonia solution, bromide is present. If it is yellow and insoluble in
ammonia solution the iodide is present.
Results
Course 222: Exp No-04
Observation:
Sample A: A-----colour ppt was formed
Sample B: A-----colour ppt was formed
Sample B: A-----colour ppt was formed
Inference:
1. Sample A might be contain-
2. Sample B might be contain-
3. Sample C might be contain-