Carbonyl Unknown Lab Procedure

Reid Otterbacher

1. Boiling Point Measurement:

o Determine the boiling point of an unknown substance using a simple distillation
setup. Purify the distillate for better results.

2. Tollens Test for Aldehydes:

o Prepare three test tubes with silver nitrate and sodium hydroxide. Add o-
tolualdehyde, 2-butanone, and the unknown to separate tubes. Observe for a silver
mirror or black precipitate within 5 minutes. Heat if needed.

3. Schiff Test for Aldehydes:

o Add Schiff solution to three test tubes. Add o-tolualdehyde, 2-butanone, and the
unknown to separate tubes. Shake for 5 minutes and observe color changes.
Fuchsia color indicates a positive test.

4. Iodoform Test for Methyl Ketones:

o Prepare a hot-water bath. Add iodoform test solution to three test tubes. Warm in
the water bath, then add o-tolualdehyde, 2-butanone, and the unknown.
Immediately add NaOH and observe for a yellow precipitate.

5. Refractive Index Measurement:

o Measure the refractive index of the unknown substance. Adjust for temperature
using the provided formula if needed.

6. Waste Disposal:
o Dispose of test solutions in designated waste containers. Rinse tubes with nitric
acid for Tollens reagent and use a "Carbonyl Unknown" waste jar for other
solutions.

7. Chemicals Used:
o Silver nitrate, 10% sodium hydroxide, conc. ammonium hydroxide, o-
tolualdehyde, 2-butanone, Schiff reagent, Iodoform reagent, 5% sodium
hypochlorite.
 Summarize the Safety Hazards:

1. o-tolualdehyde:
o Hazards: Flammable liquid. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. May cause
irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
2. 2-butanone:
o Hazards: Highly flammable liquid. Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed
through the skin. May cause eye and skin irritation.
3. Schiff Reagent:
o Hazards: Contains potentially hazardous chemicals. Exact composition may
vary, but may include substances harmful upon contact.
4. Iodoform Reagent:
o Hazards: Contains iodine, potentially harmful if ingested, inhaled, or in contact
with skin. May cause eye irritation.
5. Silver Nitrate (aq):
o Hazards: May cause skin and eye irritation. Can stain skin and other materials
upon contact.
6. Sodium Hydroxide (aq, 10%):
o Hazards: Corrosive substance. Causes severe eye and skin burns. Harmful if
swallowed or inhaled.
7. Conc. Ammonia (Ammonium Hydroxide):
o Hazards: Corrosive liquid. Causes severe eye and skin burns. Harmful if inhaled
or swallowed.