UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA BARATON

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS.
LAB REPORT WRITTEN IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE COURSE; introduction to organic
chemistry.
TOPIC:TEST FOR ALKANES AND ALKENES.
LAB INSTRUCTOR:Mr.Erick Onkoba
COURSE INSTRUCTOR:Dr Abraham Kiturr
Date due; Tuesday 18/10/2022

NAMES.
BETHWEL KIPROP skimki2311

REACTIONS OF HYDROCARBONS

Introduction. Tuesday 4 October

Hydrocarbons are compounds which contain carbon and hydrogen . They are classified into
aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Aliphatic hydrocarbons are classified into ; saturated
hydrocarbons which contain single bonds and are the unsaturated hydrocarbons which
contain double and triple bonds.
Aromantic hydrocarbons are compounds which are cyclic and have a benzene ring in there
structure.

Objectives
To know how saturated, unsaturated and aromantic hydrocarbons reacts with halogens
Methodology
a) Materials and reagents used
Test tubes
Cyclohexane, cyclohexene
Xylene, toluene
Hexane
Potassium permanganate
Sulphuric acid
Bromine water
b) Procedure
1Ml portion of cyclohexane was put into two separate test tubes and 14drops of bromine
water was added and Shaked. One was placed in the dark and the other was exposed to a
bright light . The color of the two test tubes was compared and recorded. The presence of
hydrogen bromide gas was tested by holding a piece of moist blue litmus at the mouth of
each tube
1Ml of cyclohexane, hexane and xylene was added into 2 separate clean test tubes. In each
test tube 10-15drops of bromine water was added and shaken and the results was noted .
5Ml of potassium permanganate solution was placed in to two separate test tubes. About
Five drops of cyclohexane was added to one tube and the same of cyclohexane to the other
test tube. Tubes were well Shaked for 1-3minutes and the results observed. The procedure
was repeated more times with xylene and hexane.
10drops of cyclohexane, cyclohexene, xylene and hexane were each added to four test tubes
then followed then followed by addition of 2ml of concentrated sulphuric acid in each test
tube. The tubes were shaken well and results noted
Reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons
1. 1ml of toluene was added to a small test tubes. To another test tubes few iron fillings were
added followed by 1ml of toluene. To each test tube 2drops of bromine was added . After
Then both test tubes was placed in a beaker of warm water for 15 minutes and observation of
the color in each tube recorded..
2. 2Ml of dilute potassium permanganate solution was added to a test tube containing 1Ml of
toluene. After that it was Shaken well and results recorded.
RESULTS .
Test tube one.
Bromine water decolorized in test tube placed in the light.
Colour of bromine water was retained in the test tube placed in dark. Blue litmus paper
turnsto blue in both solutions .
Test tube two.
Yellow Bromine water colour persists( cyclohexane) Moist blue litmus paper turned red.
Test tube three. (Xylene)
Yellow bromine water colour persists.
Bothe blue and red litmus paper retained their colours.
Test tube four (hexane)
Yellow bromine water colour persists.
Bothe blue and red litmus paper retained their colours.
Test tube five . (Cyclohexane)
Purple colour of KMnO4 persisted on addition of cyclohexane.
Test tube 6.( cyclohexene).
Purple KMnO4 turned brown on addition of cyclohexene and gas with pungent smell was
produced. Test tube 7. (Xylene)
Purple KMnO4 turned brown on addition of xylene .
Test tube 8 ( hexane)
Purple KMnO4 persisted on addition of hexane.
Sulphuric acid.
Test tube one. (Cyclohexene)
On addition of conc. Sulphuric acid the colour changes from colourless to brown and heat
was evolved. Test tube two. (Xylene).
On addition of conc. Sulphuric acid the colour changes from colourless to brown and heat
was evolved. Test tube 3.(Cyclohexane)
On addition of conc. Sulphuric acid the colour changed to yellow and heat was evolved .
Test tube 4. (Hexane).
On addition of conc. Sulphuric acid the colour changed to yellow and heat was evolved .
Bromine water .
Test tube one .(Toluene)
Yellow Bromine water persisted on addition to Toluene.
Moist blue litmus paper persists when placed at the mouth of the test tube. Test tube two
( iron fillings and Toluene).
On addition of bromine water grey colour of iron filings turned to brown. On addition of
bromine water grey colour of iron filings turned to brown.

DISCUSSION .
In the test tube which was placed on the light bromine water decolorized this is due to
occurrence of substitution reaction between bromine and cyclohexane. Light provided the
energy required for splitting of molecules of bromine.
There was no reaction in the test tube placed in the dark due to absence of light.
Yellow bromine water colour persists on addition of cyclohexane this is because cyclohexane
is saturated hence no delocalized electrons hence no reaction.
In the test tube containing xylene and hexane the yellow colour bromine persisted since there
was no reaction as they are saturated.
In test tube where Potassium permanganate was added in the test tube containing
cyclohexane the purple colour of the KMnO4 persisted since there was no occurrence of
oxidation since cyclohexane is saturated.
In the test tube containing cyclohexene and xylene when Potassium permanganate was
added its colour changed to brown this is due to occurrence of oxidation. Unsaturated
hydrocarbons undergo oxidation. In test tube containing hexane there was no colour change
on KMnO4, hexane is a saturated hydrocarbons hence it doesn’t undergo oxidation.
When sulphuric acid was added to test tube containing cyclohexene and Xylene there was
formation of brown solution this indicates that alkenes reacts with conc sulphuric acid.
In test tubes containing cyclohexane and hexane there was formation of two layers. This
indicates that alkanes are inert to sulphuric acid.
When bromine water was added to test containing Toluene there was no colour change since
there’s no reaction.
On addition of bromine water grey colour of iron filings turned to brown. Iron fillings catalyst
the reaction.
Conclusion
From the above experiment it can be concluded that presence of double bond in the
hydrocarbons makes them reactive to various compounds . Most alkenes used in the lab
reacted with sulphuric acid, Potassium permanganate and bromine water. Alkanes are inert to
most compounds. Most alkanes used never reacted.
Reference

General organic and biochemistry

https://chemistryclinic.co.uk
https://chemlibretext.org
Course hero
http:ohiodnr.com
Lecture notes