INTRINSIC PROPERTIES OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Alava, Paul James 2D-Pharmacy (2013-2014), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas

Abstract An organic compound is type of compound in which carbon atoms are nearly always bonded to each other, to hydrogen atoms, and sometimes to atoms of a few specific elements. These elements are usually oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphorus, as well as several others.. Organic compounds are very useful since many of them are used as preservatives, drugs, plastics, flavourings in food, scents, fuel, pesticide, and for many other things people use. The samples used were cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethanol, phenol, benzoic acid, ethyl acetate and ethyl amine. Tests were conducted for the physical state, solubility properties, reaction with litmus paper, and ignition of the organic compounds. The results of the components were based on the physical properties of the compounds and their derivatives. The compounds differed in water solubility due to their varying polarities, the solubility in acids or base leads to more specific information about the compound and the different physical and chemical properties of the organic compound. After the test, each organic compound differed with each other and was categorized according to its properties. Introduction Organic compounds are the intricate compounds of carbon. Carbon compounds are mostly based on the carbon chains that vary in length and shape. Generally, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are the atoms that are commonly found attached to the carbon atoms. Carbon atoms can also form single, double and triple bonds making variations in the molecular structures of the organic compounds numerous. Generally, organic compounds are divided into hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives based on the substitution or replacement of hydrogen by another element or group of elements. Hydrocarbons are composed entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbon derivatives, on the other hand, are formed when there is substitution of a functional group at the position of hydrogen of a hydrocarbon. (hyperphysics.edu) The objectives were differentiating organic compounds in terms of (a.) certain intrinsic physical properties and (b.) behaviour towards ignition. Materials and Methods The materials that were used were litmus papers, test tubes, test tube holder and rack, small evaporating dish, calibrated dropper, matches, distilled water, the solvents(5% HCl solution, 5% NaOH solution, distilled water) and the sample compounds(cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethanol, phenol, benzoic acid, ethyl acetate, ethyl amine). Compounds of cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethanol, phenol, benzoic acid, ethyl acetate and ethlyamine were placed on a test tube, whether liquid or solid, and were observed at room temperature in order to note its physical state. Its color and odor was also recorded under its physical state. After recording the data, each compound was subjected to water solubility test. If the compound was liquid, four drops of the compound were used and placed on a test tube. If the compound was solid, it was first grinded to increase the surface area and 0.1 grams of the solid compound was used and also placed on a test tube. Using a specific solvent, each compound was tested for its solubility properties using a calibrated

dropper. The solvent was added drop wise using the calibrated dropper until 3 ml of the solvent was on the test tube. The mixture was not to be heated. The change in color, warming and effervescence was recorded. The number of drops needed to dissolve the solvent was noted, and based on the amount of the solvent; the compounds were described as very soluble, soluble, slightly solube or insoluble if the compound was solid. If the compound was liquid, it was described as miscible, slightly miscible and immiscible. If the compound dissolved below 2 ml of the solvent, it was miscible or soluble depending on the physical phase of the compound. If the compound was turbid after 2 ml of the solvent was added, it was slightly solube or slightly miscible. If 3 ml of the solvent was placed on the test tubes with the compounds but the compound still did not dissolve, it was insoluble or immiscible. The solvents used were water, 5% NaOH solution and 5% HCl solution. After the data was recorded, all the compounds that were soluble or miscible were tested for their reaction with red and blue litmus paper. If the reaction of the compound with blue and red litmus paper was neutral, the sample was considered neutral. After data was recorded on the test for litmus paper reaction, all the compounds that were soluble or miscible were subjected to the test for ignition. Three to five drops of the liquid compounds were placed in a small evaporating dish and was lit with a match. If the sample was solid, only a pinch amount was used. The compounds were observed if it was flammable or not, then data was again recorded.

yellow, and all the other organic compounds were clear and colorless. The odors of the organic compounds were different with each other. Cyclohexane had a distinctive detergent-like odor. Dichloromethane had a sweetish odor. Ethanol had and alcoholodor. Phenol had a paste-like odor. Benzoic acid was odorless. Ethyl acetate had a plastic-balloon-like odor. And ethylamine had a strong hair dye color. From the test of solubility in different solvents, the compounds solubility with the different solvents was not the same with each other. Using water as the solvent, cyclohexane and dichloromethane were immiscible. Ethanol, phenol, ethyl acetate, and ethylamine were miscible. Benzoic acid was slightly insoluble. The solubility test with water showed the polarity of the sample and the intermolecular forces of attraction that exists between the compound and water. The presence of a hydroxyl group makes the organic compound more polar. While the more alkyl group is present, the more non-polar the organic compound becomes. Polar solvents dissolve polar compounds because like dissolves like. Organic compounds that were found out to be polar were ethanol, phenol, ethyl acetate and ethyl amine. In determining the basicity and acidity, the litmus paper test and solubility or miscibility in 5% NaOH and 5% HCl were used. Using 5% NaOH solution as the solvent, cyclohexane, dichloromethane, and phenol was immiscible. Ethanol, ethyl acetate and ethylamine was miscible. Benzoic acid was insoluble. Using 5% HCl solution as the solvent, cyclohexane, ethanol and ethyl acetate were miscible. Dichloromethane, phenol and ethyl amine were immiscible. Benzoic acid was insoluble. Those that are miscible or soluble in 5% NaOH solution are acids because NaOH is a base. While those that react with 5% HCl solutions are bases because HCl is an acid. This is because acidic substances react with basic substances and vice-versa. They can only be miscible or soluble to

Results and Discussions From the observation of the organic compounds physical state, all of the organic compounds were liquid at room temperature, except for the benzoic acid which was solid and crystalline. Phenol had a clear red color, benzoic acid was crystalline white, ethylamine was clear

either of the two solvents, or else they will be categorized as neutral. According to the litmus paper test that was observed on the experiment, cycloheaxane was neutral, ethanol was neutral, phenol was acidic, benzoic acid was acidic, ethyl acetate was neutral and ethyl amine was basic. Those that were said to be acidic turned the blue litmus paper to red, and those that turned red litmus paper to blue was basic. Those that did not change the color of the litmus paper was neutral. The data recorded showed that cyclohexane was neutral, ethanol was basic, phenol was acidic, ethyl acetate was neutral, and ethylamine was basic. The test for solubility in 5% NaOH and 5% HCl solution did not support the ignition test for compounds. Both tests were to show whether the compound was acidic, basic, or neutral. But since the test for solubility was more prone to human error in determining whether the compound was soluble or insoluble/misicble or immiscible, the ignition test was more accurate. During the ignition test, cyclohexane had an orange-yellow flame, dichloromethane was not flammable, ethanol had a red flame, phenol was not flammable, benzoic acid was not flammable, thyl acetate had a blue flame and ethylamine also had a blue flame. Ignition test was performed to indicate the unsaturation of high carbon to hydrogen ratio. Aromatic compounds burn with sooty flame due to the incomplete combustion. Complete combustion is shown by a blue or non-luminous flame and there is more heat than light, which means that carbon is completely oxidized. Incomplete combustion is indicated by a yellow or luminous flame.

This is because the completely oxidized. References:

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Zumdahl, S., Zumdahl S.(2010).Chemistry an atoms first approach.Cengage.USA Bruice,P.(2010).Organic Chemistry.Prentice hall, USA Francis A., Carey, Richard A.(2007) Advanced Organic Chemistry.5th Edition. USA, springer. Schulte, M.(2005) Experimental Investigation of Organic Compound Stability Under Hydrothermal Conditions. NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, USA HYDROCARBONS. Retrieved from: http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/organic/hydrocarbon.ht ml. accessed on September 9, 2013. What are organic compounds? Retrieved from: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-areorganic-compounds.htm. date accessed: September 10, 2013 Organic compound. Retrieved from: http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topi c/431954/organic-compound. date accessed: September 10, 2013.

(Dedicated to those who would like a sample for their formal reports on experiment 6 on Organic chemistry Lab second year UST pharma students. hehehe :) ) sorry walang table hahaha :) gawa kayo ng table para mas mataas scores nyo!