LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8: Comparison of Organic and Inorganic

Compounds Page

LABORATORY ACTIVITY 1

COMPARISON OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC

COMPOUNDS
A. INTRODUCTION
Organic Chemistry is the scientific study of the structure, properties,
composition, reactions and preparation of compounds consisting primarily of
carbon and hydrogen. Organic compounds may also contain a number of other
elements such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus and halogens.
During the 18th century, classifying compounds was easy. The Vital Force
Theory, which is widely accepted at that time, provided a clear distinction
between organic and inorganic compounds. Based on this theory, substances
from living or once living organisms are organic. Compounds that come from
minerals or are synthesized in the laboratory, on the other hand, are inorganic.
In 1828, Friedrich Wöhler was able to synthesize an organic compound,
urea (a constituent of urine), from inorganic compound ammonium cyanate. His
experiment proved that the classification of compounds based on the Vital
Force Theory was incorrect.
Today, the striking difference between organic from inorganic
compounds may be established by studying the physical and chemical behavior
of each class.

B. OBJECTIVES

a. To compare some properties of organic and inorganic compounds.

b. To determine the elemental composition of organic compounds by simple
qualitative test.
c. To observe some properties of organic compounds.

C. MATERIALS NEEDED

 TO BE PROVIDED BY THE STUDENTS

25g table sugar Distilled water

 PROVIDED BY THE LABORATORY

o Glassware/Apparatus

12 Test tubes 1 test tube rack

1 Test tube holder 1 test tube brush
1 Evaporating dish 1 Watch glass
1 Stirring rod 1 Bunsen burner
 LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8: Comparison of Organic and Inorganic
Compounds Page

1 Pipette 1 Aspirator
2 Droppers 1 Spatula
1 Wire gauze

o Reagents

Ethanol Acetone
Napthalene Benzene
Cyclohexane Chloroform
10% Lead Acetate solution Urea
Casein Albumin
Concentrated HCl NaCl
Na2CO3 CuO
Lime water Filter

D. PROCEDURE

A. Flammability Test
1. Place five drops of ethanol in a watch glass
2. Touch the ethanol with lighted match stick. If flame is produced, take note of
its color and describe the smoke formed. Repeat the test using distilled water.
B. Charring Test
1. Place one gram of salt (NaCl) into a dry evaporating dish.
2. Heat the salt for 10 mins and observe what happens.
3. Repeat this test replacing salt with sugar.
C. Solubility Test
1. Place 2 mL of chloroform in in each 2 separate test tubes (label it A and B).
2. Place 2 mL of distilled in in each 2 separate test tubes (label it C and D).
3. In test tubes A and C, place a pinch of naphthalene. Cover the lid with your
thumb and shake the contents. Observe the solubility.
4. In test tubes B and D, place a pinch of salt. Cover the lid with your thumb and
shake the contents. Observe the solubility.

Elemental Composition of Organic Compounds

D. Test for Carbon and Hydrogen
1. Grind together in a mortar one spatula of CuO and half a spatula of sugar
2. Introduce the mixture into a dry test tube and assemble the set-up shown
below:
3. Heat the test tube containing the CuO-sugar mixture slowly and carefully.
Note the residue and what was formed at the cooler portions of the test tube.
E. Test for Oxygen
1. In a dry test tube, insert a strip of ferrox paper.
2. Add 3 drops of ethanol. The liquid will dissolve the salt and show red to violet
colorants if the compound contains oxygen or sulfur, and generally nitrogen.
3. Repeat this test using acetone, benzene and cyclohexane.
F. Test for Nitrogen (Soda Lime Test)
1. Heat a pinch of urea with a small amount of Na2CO3 in a dry test tube.
 LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8: Comparison of Organic and Inorganic
Compounds Page

2. Moist a small piece of red litmus paper and place it on one end of the stirring
rod.
3. When the vapors start to form, expose a small piece of moist red litmus paper
to the vapor.
4. Then dip the other end of the stirring rod in concentrated HCl and expose it
again to the vapors. Observe what happens.
G. Test for Sulfur
1. Heat a pinch of casein in a dry test tube.
2. Moist a filter paper with 1 to 2 drops of lead acetate solution.
3. Place over the mouth of the test tube the moistened filter paper. Observe what
happens for 10 mins.
4. Repeat this test using albumin.

E. WASTE MANAGEMENT

a. Waste generated from procedures A, B, D, E, F and G should be disposed to

Inorganic waste container.
b. Waste generated from test tube A and B in procedure C should be disposed to
Halogenated waste container.
c. Waste generated from test tube C and D in procedure C should be disposed to
Inorganic waste container.
 LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8: Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Page
SURNAME GIVEN NAME MIDDLE
NAME: SCORE:
INITIAL

SECTION: DATE PERFORMED:

LABORATORY SCHEDULE: DATE SUBMITTED:

LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8
COMPARISON OF ORGANIC AND INROGANIC CHEMISTRY

d. REPORT SHEET
Properties of Organic and Inorganic Compounds

Test Observation

A. Flammability

Ethanol

Water

B. Charring Test

Salt

Sugar

C. Solubility

Test tube A

Test tube B
 LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8: Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Page

Test tube C

Test tube D

Elemental Composition of Organic Compounds

Test Observation

D. Test for Hydrogen and

Oxygen

Sugar

E. Test for Oxygen

Acetone

Ethanol

Benzene

Cyclohexane

F. Test for Nitrogen

Reaction with red litmus

paper

Reaction with HCl

 LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8: Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Page

G. Test for Sulfur

Casein

Albumin

e. QUESTIONS

1. How would you account for the observed difference between organic and inorganic
compounds in terms of:

a. Flammability

b. Charring

c. Solubility

2. Explain the structural effects on the solubility of organic compounds

 LABORATORY ACTIVITY 8: Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Compounds Page

3. Why are liquid organic compounds volatile

f. CONCLUSION