Organic Qualitative Analysis: Elements and Functional Groups

Name: Organic Qualitative Analysis: Elements and Functional Groups
Author: StemPy Lab

How a chemist finds out what an unknown organic compound contains.

We heat the compound with copper(II) oxide to find carbon and hydrogen.
The sodium fusion of Lassaigne shows nitrogen, sulphur and the halogens.
Then come the tests that tell an alcohol, a phenol, an aldehyde, a ketone, an acid and an amine apart.

3 lessons, about 1 h 20 min3 simulations10 problems3 practice questionsPython in every lesson

Course outline (3 lessons)

Lesson 1about 30 min
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen: the sodium fusion extract
A chemist is handed an unknown white powder. Is it organic? What is it made of? This lesson shows how carbon and hydrogen are found by heating with copper(II) oxide, and how a sodium fusion turns nitrogen into an ion that gives Prussian blue.
1 simulation1 practice question1 Python program3 problems1 Python lab
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Lesson 2about 25 min
Sulphur and the halogens in an organic compound
The same sodium fusion extract also shows sulphur and the halogens. Sulphur gives a violet colour or a black precipitate. The halogens give white, pale yellow or yellow silver salts. This lesson says why each test works and when they overlap.
1 simulation1 practice question1 Python program3 problems
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Lesson 3about 25 min
Tests for the functional groups
Which group does an unknown compound carry? A chemist uses a short test for each: bromine water for a double bond, ferric chloride for a phenol, the silver mirror for an aldehyde. This lesson gives the reagent, the colour and the reason for each test.
1 simulation1 practice question1 Python program4 problems1 Python lab1 question set1 note
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Board exam format15 questions · 20 min

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