Experiment 5: Formaldehyde and Aromatic Aldehyde Flashcards
In Experiment 5, what class of organic compounds are being tested?
Aldehydes (both aliphatic & aromatic) and Ketones
What do Aldehydes and Ketones have in common?
They are both organic compounds with the functional carbonyl group or C=O
Aldehydes: CHO
Ketones: COR
What is an Aromatic Aldehyde?
The compounds in which the aldehyde functional group is attached to the aromatic ring
Aliphatic Aldehydes vs Aromatic Aldehydes:
Aliphatic aldehydes are more reactive than aromatic aldehydes.
Aromatic aldehydes are less reactive due to their stability.
PREPARATION OF FORMALDEHYDE FROM METHANOL: Procedure & Equation
PROCEDURE:
- A copper spiral is heated in the burner’s oxidizing flame.
- It is then dipped into a solution of 1 mL methyl alcohol / CH3OH in 5-6 mL of H2O.
EQUATION:
2 CH3OH + O2 [Cu]–> 2 HCHO + 2 H2O
How was CH2O / HCHO produced?
It was produced by the oxidation of methanol.
Methanol loses an H atom and gains an O atom –> OXIDATION
In preparation of HCHO, what was the catalyst?
Cu from the copper spiral
Formaldehyde vs Formalin
Formaldehyde is a gas at room temperature. It is neutral and soluble in water.
Formalin is a solution of 37-40% formaldehyde in water
5.1A. SCHIFF’S TEST: Procedure
PROCEDURE:
1 mL of colorless Schiff’s Solution / C20H20N3 HCl is added to three different test tubes containing
- HCHO
- C6H5CHO / benzaldehyde
- CH3COCH3 / acetone
5.1B. Why is C20H20N3 HCl colorless? What was its original color?
C20H20N3 HCl was originally magenta-red because it contained fuchsin which gave it its color.
However, it was decolorized by sulfurous acids / sulfur dioxide, making it lose its color
5.1C. SCHIFF’S REST: Results & Discussion
- Schiff in HCHO: Saturated magenta color
- Schiff in C6H5CHO: Pale pink bubble on liquid
When aldehydes react with Schiff’s reagent, they restore the fuchsin’s magenta color.
- Schiff in CH3COCH3: Remains purple
Ketones do not give this color.
5.1D. Why does Schiff’s only work with aldehydes?
The free and uncharged amine groups in the reagent react with the aldehyde groups to form aldimine, which further reacts into a bisulfite ion. Finally, the magenta bisulfite adduct is formed.
5.2A. RESORCINOL TEST: Procedure
PROCEDURE:
- HCHO (formalin) is added with resorcinol solution / C6H6O2.
- The test tube is then inclined and added with conc. H2SO4.
5.2B. RESORCINOL TEST: Results & Discussion
A red flocculent precipitate line forms at the junction of two layers
5.2C. What is the Resorcinol Test specifically used to test for?
The presence of formaldehyde / HCHO
5.2D. Resorcinol is often utilized with formaldehyde to manufacture _____
Resins
These two solutions are mild oxidizing agents
- Tollen’s solution
- Fehling’s solution