TESTS FOR FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
1. Aim:- To identify the functional group (-OH) present in the given organic compound.
S.N Experiment Observation Inference
1. Ester Formation test A fruity smell is produced. Alcoholic group present (-OH)
Take about 1 ml of the give liquid in a clean dry test tube,
add about 1 ml glacial acetic acid and 2-3 drops of conc.
sulphuric acid. Warm the mixture on a water bath for
about 10 minutes. Pour it into about 20 ml of cold water
taken in a beaker and smell.
2. Ceric Ammonium nitrate Test Pink or red colour is developed. Alcoholic group confirmed.
Take about 1 ml of the given liquid in a clean dry test
tube and add few drops of ceric ammonium nitrate
reagent and shake it well.
Result: - Alcoholic group is present in the given compound.
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2. Aim: - To identify the functional group (Phenol) present in the given organic compound.
S.N Experiment Observation Inference
1. Litmus Test It turns red. Phenolic group present
Place a drop of the given liquid (or a crystal if solid) on a
moist blue litmus paper.
2. FeCl3 Solution Test Formation of violet coloured Phenolic group present
complex
Take about 1 ml of neutral ferric chloride solution in a
clean test tube and add 2-3 drops of the given liquid (or
crystal is solid).
3. Bromine Water Test White ppt observed Phenolic group Confirmed
Organic compound + Br2 water
+ 3 Br2(aq)
Result: - Phenolic group is present in the given compound.
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3. Aim: - To identify the functional group (-COOH) present in the given organic compound.
S.N Experiment Observation Inference
Litmus Test
1. Blue litmus turns to red. -COOH / Phenolic group
Place a drop of the given liquid (or a crystal if solid) on a present
moist blue litmus paper.
RCOOH + H2 O RCOO- + H3O+
Sodium Bicarbonate test Brisk effervescence is observed -COOH group present
2. by CO2 gas
Take 1 ml of the given organic compound in a test tube
and add a pinch of sodium bicarbonate to it.
FeCl3 Solution Test
3. Red or Yellow ppt obtained -COOH group confirmed.
Shake given organic compound with NH4OH solution and
boil it, cool it and add few drop of neutral FeCl3 solution. (i) RCOOH + NH4OH RCOONH4 + H2O
(ii) 3 RCOONH4 + FeCl3 (RCOO)3Fe
(Red Colour)
Result: - Carboxylic group is present in the given compound.
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4. Aim: - To identify the functional group (Aldehyde / Ketone) present in the given organic compound.
S.N Experiment Observation Inference
1. 2,4-DNP Test [For both]
Orange - red ppt Carbonyl (-CO-) group present
Take a small quantity of the given compound in a
clean dry test tube, add rectified spirit until the
compound just dissolves. Now add few drops of 2,
4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine solution. Cork the test
tube, shake the mixture and allow it to stand for
5 minutes.
2. Sodium Bisulphite Test [For both]
White Crystalline ppt Aldehyde / Ketone group present
Take about 2 ml of saturated solution of sodium
bisulphite in a clean test tube and add a small
quantity of the given compound. Cork the test
tube, shake and leave it for 15 - 20 minutes.
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3. Iodoform Test [All Methyl Ketones,
Acetaldehyde and ethylalcohol] Yellow ppt obtained - CO- group confirmed.
Warm organic compound with Iodine and NaOH
solution in a boiling water bath. CH3-CO-CH3 + 3 I2 + NaOH CH3-CO-COO- + CHI3
4. Sodium Nitro Prusside Test [For Both]
Red wine colouration Aldehyde / Ketone group present
Organic compound + Sodium Nitro Prusside + 2,3
drops of NaOH then shake.
CH3-CO-CH3 + HO- (NaOH) CH3-CO-CH2- + H2O
CH3-CO-CH2- + [Fe(CN)5NO]2- [Fe(CN)5NO.CH3COCH2]3-
(Red wine colouration)
5. Tollen’s Reagent Test [For Aliphatic and
aromatic aldehydes] Shining silver mirror is formed. Aldehyde group present
Take about 1 ml of silver nitrate solution in a clean
test tube and add 2-3 ml of dilute NaOH solution.
A brown precipitate of silver oxide forms. Now
add dilute ammonia solution dropwise until the
brown precipitate of silver oxide just dissolves.
To this add 3-4 drops of the given liquid (or 0.1 g
if solid) and warm the test tube on a water bath
for about 5 minutes.
Ketone is not oxidized by Tollen’s reagent
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6. Fehling’s Solution Test [For Aliphatic
aldehydes] Brick red precipitate is formed. Aldehyde group present
Take 1 ml each of Fehling’s solution A and B in a
test tube. Add 4 - 5 drops of the given organic
liquid (or 0.2g if solid) and warm the test in a
water bath for 4 - 5 minutes.
Ketone is not oxidized by Fehling’s reagent
7. Schiff’s Reagent Test [For both]
Pink colour appear Aldehyde group present
Shake organic compound with 2 ml of Schiff’s
reagent
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5. Aim: - To identify the functional group (Amine) present in the given organic compound.
S.N Experiment Observation Inference
1. Litmus Test Red litmus turns to blue. Compound may be amine.
Place a drop of the given liquid (or a pinch of solid)
on a moist red litmus paper.
2. Carbylamines Test An offensive (unlike)smell is Presence of primary amine.
Take a small quantity of solid KOH in a clean dry produced.
test tube and add about 2 ml of ethanol. Warm
the test tube until the pellets dissolve. To this
add a few drops of chloroform and small amount
of the given compound and warm gently.
3. Azo-Dye Test Formation of a red or orange Presence of aromatic primary amine
Take three test tubes A, B and C. In test tube A, dye. is confirmed.
dissolve a small quantity of the compound in 2 ml
of HCl. In test tube B, prepare an aqueous
solution of sodium nitrite. In test tube C, dissolve
a small quantity of β-naphthol in dilute sodium
hydroxide. Place all the three test tubes in an ice
bath. Now add sodium nitrite solution into test
tube A and the resulting solution is added to test
tube C.
Result: - Amine group is present in the given compound.
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