Chemical Tests for Xylene and Hexane Properties

Physical state, color, and odor

The test where you observe xylene and hexane for their physical state, color and also odor using a waffling motion.

Solubility in concentrated sulfuric acid

The test where you have 5 drops of xylene, hexane, and distilled water all separately dropped into tubes with 10 drops of concentrated sulfuric acid and observe for color and warming effect.

Ignition test

The test where you ignite 5 drops of xylene with a match and note the color of the flame.

Baeyer's test

The test for unsaturation that has you dropping 5 drops of benzene, hexane, or distilled water into 2 drops of 2% potassium permanganate (KMnO4). You then shake the tubes and note the formation of brown suspensions all while observing the rate of decolorization.

Bromine test

Test for unsaturation that involves observing the rate and extent of decolorization. It has you dropping 5 drops of xylene, hexane, or distilled water along with 10 drops of 0.5% bromine in carbon tetrachloride.

Test for aromaticity

Test for unsaturation where you note the color formation of oily layer. You add 5 drops of xylene, hexane, or distilled water in 8 drops of nitrating mixture then shake.

Basic oxidation test

Test for unsaturation where you water bath for 10 minutes then note the color change and formation of precipitate. You drop 5 drops of xylene, hexane, or distilled water along with 8 drops of 2% KMnO4 and 3 drops of 10% NaOH.

Liquid

Physical state of xylene at room temperature.

Liquid

Physical state of hexane at room temperature.

Clear

Color of xylene at room temperature.

Clear

Color of hexane at room temperature.

Strong aroma

Odor of xylene.

Weak/mild aroma

Odor of hexane.

Xylene

In concentrated sulfuric acid, it is immiscible and creates 2 layers, the top being white and the bottom yellow. It also exhibited no warming effects.

Hexane

In concentrated sulfuric acid, it is immiscible and creates two layers, the top being transparent white and the bottom being translucent white. It also exhibited no warming effects.

Distilled water

In concentrated sulfuric acid, it is miscible and created a homogenous mixture. It exhibited warming effects and was generally slightly yellowish.

Xylene

In an ignition test, this created an orange flame and produced black smoke.

Hexane

In an ignition test, this created a yellow (or orange) flame and produced no smoke.

Xylene

In Baeyer's test, it did not show decolorization and the sample and reagent did not mix together.

Hexane

In Baeyer's test, it showed decolorization and left a brown stain on the test tube. The sample and reagent mixed together.

Distilled water

In Baeyer's test, it mixed with the reagent KMnO4 but left no brown stain and had no decolorization.

Xylene

In a bromine test, it reacted with bromine by forming a top layer that is pink and experiencing decolorization.

Hexane

In a bromine test, it experienced no decolorization.

Distilled water

In a bromine test, it experienced no decolorization.

Xylene

In a test for aromaticity, this created a clear oily layer with the nitrating mixture.

Hexane

In a test for aromaticity, this weak aromatic compound created a clear oily layer with nitrating mixture.

Distilled water

In a test for aromaticity, this part of the control group did not create an oily layer with nitrating mixture and actually mixed in our experiment.

Xylene

In a basic oxidation test, this changed color into black after 2 minutes of being bathed and eventually also turned green. It also formed precipitates.

Hexane

In a basic oxidation test, this did not change color and had no precipitate.

Distilled water

In a basic oxidation test, this part of the control group did not change color.

Concentrated sulfuric acid

The reagent used in test for solubility.

KMnO4

The reagent used in Baeyer's test.

0.5% bromine in CCl4

The reagent used in bromine test.

Nitrating mixture

Reagent used in test for aromaticity.

2% KMnO4 and 10% NaOH

The reagents used in basic oxidation test.

Concentrated sulfuric acid and nitric acid

Components of nitrating mixture.