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CHEMISTRY 3
EXPERIMENT NO. 2
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF HYDROCARBONS
I. INTRODUCTION
Hydrocarbons are also combustable, meaning they burn in the reaction with
oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. Reactions of hydrocarbons with
compounds like Bromine, Potassium Permanganate, and Concentrated Sulfuric Acid
are also observed to differentiate the compounds’ based on behavior. Unsaturated
carbons tend to react readily with bromine, forming a colorless liquid. Unsaturated
hydrocarbons also react readily with potassium permanganate, a strong oxidizing
agent, forming a brown precipitate from a dark red-violet liquid. Alkenes have rapid
reactions with sulfuric acid, alkynes however show a slow reaction.
This experiment aims to determine and verify the physical and chemical
properties of certain hydrocarbons: benzene, butane, cyclohexane, hexane, hexene,
and acetylene gas. Specifically, it chooses to focus on solubility, volatility,
flammability and combustability, and reactions with bromine, potassium
permanganate and sulfuric acid. The experiment also aims to determine a specific
unknown compound based on the results of the tests aforementioned.
II. METHODOLOGY
To test for reactivity with sulfuric acid, an amber container of sulfuric acid was
placed in an ice bath. 10 drops of the hydrocarbon samples were added again to
clean, separate test tubes. With careful shaking, 3 drops of the cold sulfuric acid
were added to each of the test tubes and observations were recorded.
All organic wastes formed were poured into a designated container. Those
containing potassium permanganate were poured into another container.
Figure 3.3 Potassium Permanganate with Cyclohexane, Unknown Compound, and Hexane
Figure 3.4 Solubility Test Results, (from left) cyclohexane with water and petroleum ether, unknown compound with water and
petroleum ether, hexane with water and petroleum ether
IV. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Upon performing the test for solubility, it can be said that the physical property
of hydrocarbons as non-polar compounds is verified. All hydrocarbons were
observed to be immiscible in water, but miscible in petroleum ether, an organic,
nonpolar, solvent. This proves that hydrocarbons are usually nonpolar.
After letting butane, hexane, and the unknown sample evaporate, it is clear
how volatile the given hydrocarbon substances were. Between the two known
compounds, butane and hexane, butane is recorded to be more volatile or vaporizes
at a quicker rate. It is observed that as the number of carbons in the chain increases,
volatility decreases.
After igniting the available hydrocarbons, hexane was proven to form little to
no soot, while the unknown compound and cyclohexane produced a moderate
amount of soot. Acetylene, an alkyne produced a large amount of soot after a violent
flame. Alkenes such as benzene and hexene are also expected to produce large
amounts of soot. It can be inferred that alkanes tend to produce less soot after the
combustion reaction. Soot is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. This may mean
that the combustion reaction of saturated hydrocarbons are more complete than
those of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The flammability test or test for combustivity
may be used to distinguish alkenes and alkanes, as it is now known that when
ignited, alkanes produce less soot than alkenes.
The cold sulfuric acid did not react with the hexane, cyclohexane, and
unknown sample but is expected to react with alkenes such as benzene and hexene.
V. CONCLUSION