NCEA 2 Chemistry - Organic Compound Tests

Tests for Alkanes, Alkenes, Alcohols, Carboxylic acids and Amines.

Alkane + Red litmus

Red litmus remains red

Alkane + Blue litmus

Blue litmus remains blue

Alkane + Solubility in water

Forms two layers

Alkane + Bromine water Br₂ (aq)

Orange to colourless slowly with UV light. Alkane to bromoalkane (substitution reaction)

Alkane + H⁺/MnO₄^-

MnO4- remains purple. Forms two layers

Alkane + H⁺/Cr₂O₇^2-

Cr₂O₇^2- remains orange. Forms two layers

Alkane + Carbonate or Hydrogen Carbonate

No reaction

Alkane + Metal

No reaction

Alkene + Red litmus

Red litmus remains red

Alkene + Blue litmus

Blue litmus remains blue

Alkene + Solubility in water

Forms two layers

Alkene + Bromine water Br₂ (aq)

Orange to colourless quickly. Alkane to dibromoalkane (addition reaction)

Alkene + H⁺/MnO₄^-

Purple to colourless. Alkene to diol (oxidation reaction)

Alkene + H⁺/Cr₂O₇^2-

Cr₂O₇^2- remains orange. Forms two layers

Alkene + Carbonate or Hydrogen Carbonate

No reaction

Alkene + Metal

No reaction

Alcohol + Red litmus

Red litmus remains red

Alcohol + Blue litmus

Blue litmus remains blue

Alcohol + Solubility in water

C1-C4 Mixes into a single layer. > C4 two layers

Alcohol + Bromine water Br₂ (aq)

Br₂(aq) remains orange

Alcohol + H⁺/MnO₄^-

Purple to colourless. Alcohol to carboxylic acid (oxidation reaction)

Alcohol + H⁺/Cr₂O₇^2-

Orange → green. Alcohol → carboxylic acid. Oxidation reaction

Alcohol + Carbonate or Hydrogen Carbonate

No reaction

Alcohol + Metal

No reaction

Carboxylic acid + Red litmus

Red litmus remains red

Carboxylic acid + Blue litmus

Blue litmus turns red

Carboxylic acid + Solubility in water

C1-C4 Mixes into a single layer. > C4 two layers

Carboxylic acid + Bromine water Br₂ (aq)

Br₂(aq) remains orange

Carboxylic acid + H⁺/MnO₄^-

MnO₄^- remains purple

Carboxylic acid + H⁺/Cr₂O₇^2-

Cr₂O₇^2- remains orange

Carboxylic acid + Carbonate or Hydrogen Carbonate

Bubbles of CO₂

Carboxylic acid + Metal

Bubbles of H₂

Amine + Red litmus

Red litmus remains red

Amine + Blue litmus

Blue litmus remains blue

Amine + Solubility in water

C1-C4 Mixes into a single layer. > C4 two layers

Amine + Bromine water Br₂ (aq)

Br₂(aq) remains orange

Amine + H⁺/MnO₄^-

MnO₄^- remains purple

Amine + H⁺/Cr₂O₇^2-

Cr₂O₇^2- remains orange

Amine + Carbonate or Hydrogen Carbonate

No reaction

Amine + Metal

No reaction