Chemical Tests For Organic Molecules

 

This is part of the HSC Chemistry course under the topic Analysis of Organic Substances. This section explores a range of chemical tests that can be conducted in a school laboratory to identify and distinguish between various organic functional groups.

HSC Chemistry Syllabus

Conduct qualitative investigations to test for the presence in organic molecules of the following functional groups:

• carbon–carbon double bonds

• hydroxyl groups

• carboxylic acids (ACSCH130)

Identifying C=C Bonds: Bromine Water Test

Bromine water test is a chemical test to differentiate between alkenes and alkanes. It can also be used to identify the presence of a carbon-carbon double bond. This video outlines the bromine water test and explains why organic molecules give different observations when reacted with bromine water.

 

Identifying Hydroxyl Groups: Lucas' Test & Oxidation Test

This video explores the Lucas test and oxidation tests using acidified dichromate and permanganate solutions to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.

What are primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols?

 

 

Chemical Test For Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

This video discusses how chemical tests such as oxidation can distinguish between an aldehyde and ketone. The video also explores the identification of an organic acid such as carboxylic acid.

 

 

Back to Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas