Sodium, test for

Since the mercury ditolyl has practically the same solubility in xylene as the tolylmercuric iodide and chloride, the latter will be present in the recrystallized product if the reaction has not gone to completion. A trace of unchanged product may readily be detected by the metallic sodium test for inorganic halides. 

Benedict solution Aqueous solution of Na2C03, CuSO, and sodium citrate used for testing for reducing agents, particularly sugars, which give red-yellow colours or precipitates. 

Trichloroethanoic acid, CCI3COOH. A crystalline solid which rapidly absorbs water vapour m.p. 58°C, b.p. 196-5" C. Manufactured by the action of chlorine on ethanoic acid at 160°C in the presence of red phosphorus, sulphur or iodine. It is decomposed into chloroform and carbon dioxide by boiling water. It is a much stronger acid than either the mono- or the dichloro-acids and has been used to extract alkaloids and ascorbic acid from plant and animal tissues. It is a precipitant for proteins and may be used to test for the presence of albumin in urine. The sodium salt is used as a selective weedkiller. 

Note cautiously the characteristic odour of acetaldehyde which this solution possesses. Then with the solution carry out the following general tests for aldehydes described on p. 341 Test No. I (SchiflF s reagent). No. 3 (Action of sodium hydroxide). No. 4 (Reduction of ammoniacal silver nitrate). Finally perform the two special tests for acetaldehyde given on p. 344 (Nitroprusside test and the Iodoform reaction). 

The residual liquid in the flask is a dilute alkaline solution of sodium acetate. To liberate the acetic acid, add dilute sulphuric acid until the solution is definitely acid to litmus, and then distil off about 20 ml. Perform on this aqueous distillate the tests for acetic acid given on p. 347-... 

Sodium benzoate,—Burns with great difficulty, and after prolonged heating leaves a white infusible residue of NajCOj. Scrape this residue into a test-tube, and test for carbonate in the usual way. Typical of alkali salts of carboxylic acids. 

Now grind up the mixture of solution and glass in the mortar to ensure extraction of the sodium salts, and then filter. Divide the filtrate into three portions, reserving two portions for testing for halogens and sulphur. 

Sulphur. THE LASSAIGNE SODIUM TEST. The sodium fusion will have converted any sulphur present in the original compounds to sodium sulphide. Dissolve a few crystals of sodium nitroprusside, Na8[Fe(CN)5NO],zH20, in water, and add the solution to the third portion of the filtrate obtained from the sodium fusion. A brilliant purple coloration (resembling permanganate) indicates sulphur the coloration slowly fades on standing. Note, (i) Sodium nitroprusside is unstable in aqueous solution and therefore the solution should be freshly prepared on each occasion, (ii) This is a very delicate test for sulphides, and it is essential therefore that all apparatus, particularly test-tubes, should be quite clean. 

Sulphuric add test. Heat 0 5 g. of citric acid or a citrate with 1 ml. of H2SO4 CO and COg are evolved and the mixture turns yellow, but does not char. Acetone dicarboxylic acid, OC(CH2COOH)g, is also formed, and is tested for after heating the mixture for 1 minute cool, add a few ml. of water and make alkaline with NaOH solution. Add a few ml. of a freshly prepared solution of sodium nitroprusside and note the intense red coloration (see Test 4 a) for ketones, p. 346). 

Now add a few drops of a freshly prepared solution of sodium nitroprusside. A purple coloration is obtained (test for - SH Group),... 

Most nitrocompounds react vigorously with metallic sodium during the tests for elements present (p. 321). 

Chloroform and iodoform give also sodium formate in this reaction CHCI3 -h 4NaOH = HCOONa -h 3NaCl -f zH O. A portion of the solution, before the addition of the HNO3, should therefore be tested for formic acid (Tests, p. 350) ensure however that the solution is neutralised where necessary during these tests. 

Absolute diethyl ether. The chief impurities in commercial ether (sp. gr. 0- 720) are water, ethyl alcohol, and, in samples which have been exposed to the air and light for some time, ethyl peroxide. The presence of peroxides may be detected either by the liberation of iodine (brown colouration or blue colouration with starch solution) when a small sample is shaken with an equal volume of 2 per cent, potassium iodide solution and a few drops of dilute hydrochloric acid, or by carrying out the perchromio acid test of inorganic analysis with potassium dichromate solution acidified with dilute sulphuric acid. The peroxides may be removed by shaking with a concentrated solution of a ferrous salt, say, 6-10 g. of ferrous salt (s 10-20 ml. of the prepared concentrated solution) to 1 litre of ether. The concentrated solution of ferrous salt is prepared either from 60 g. of crystallised ferrous sulphate, 6 ml. of concentrated sulphuric acid and 110 ml. of water or from 100 g. of crystallised ferrous chloride, 42 ml. of concentrated hydiochloric acid and 85 ml. of water. Peroxides may also be removed by shaking with an aqueous solution of sodium sulphite (for the removal with stannous chloride, see Section VI,12). 

Di-n-butyl ether. Technical n-butyl ether does not usually contain appreciable quantities of peroxides, unless it has been stored for a prolonged period. It should, however, be tested for peroxides, and, if the test is positive, the ether should be shaken with an acidified solution of a ferrous salt or with a solution of sodium sulphite (see under Diethyl ether). The ether is dried with anhydrous calcium chloride, and distilled through a fractionating column the portion, b.p. 140-141°, is collected. If a fraction of low boiling point is obtained, the presence of n-butyl... 

The reaction with sodium is by no means an infallible practical test for alcohols since, strictly speaking, it is applicable only to pure anhydrous liquids. Traces of water, present as impurities, would give an initial evolution of hydrogen, but reaction would stop after a time if an alcohol is absent furthermore, certain esters and ketones also evolve hydrogen when treated with sodium (compare Section XI,7,6). It may, however, be assumed that if no hydrogen is evolved in the test, the substance is not an alcohol. 

The experimental conditions necessary for the preparation of a solution of a diazonium salt, diazotisation of a primary amine, are as follows. The amine is dissolved in a suitable volume of water containing 2 5-3 equivalents of hydrochloric acid (or of sulphuric acid) by the application of heat if necessary, and the solution is cooled in ice when the amine hydrochloride (or sulphate) usually crystallises. The temperature is maintained at 0-5°, an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite is added portion-wise until, after allowing 3-4 minutes for reaction, the solution gives an immediate positive test for excess of nitrous acid with an external indicator—moist potassium iodide - starch paper f ... 

It is essential to use an excess of sodium, otherwise if sulphur and nitrogen are both present sodium thiocyanate, NaCNS, may be produced in the test for nitrogen it may give a red coloration with ferric iron but no Prussian blue since there will be no free cyanide ions. With excess of sodium the thiocyanate, if formed, will be decomposed ... 

This solution may also be employed in the test for bromine. If iodine has been found, add small amounts of sodium nitrite solution, warm shghtly and shake with fresh 1 ml. portions of carbon tetrachloride until the last extract is colourless boil the acid solution until no more nitrous fumes are evolved and cool. If iodine is absent, use 1 ml. of the fusion solution which has been strongly acidified with glacial acetic acid. Add a small amount of lead dioxide, place a strip of fluorescein paper across the mouth of the tube, and warm the solution. If bromine is present, it will colour the test paper rose-pink (eosin). 

It is recommended that the eompound be fused with a mixture of sodium carbonate (2 parts) and sodium peroxide (1 part) as in the test for Plvoaphoms. Extract the fused mass with water, filter, and acidify with dilute hydrochloric acid. Pass hydrogen sulphide through the hot solution arsenic is precipitated as yellow arsenic sulphide. If antimony is present, it will be precipitated as orange antimony trisulphide. 

When an organic compound is heated with a mixture of zinc powder and sodium carbonate, the nitrogen and halogens are converted into sodium cyanide and sodium hahdes respectively, and the sulphur into zinc sulphide (insoluble in water). The sodium cyanide and sodium hahdes are extracted with water and detected as in Lassaigne s method, whilst the zinc sulphide in the residue is decomposed with dilute acid and the hydrogen sulphide is identified with sodium plumbite or lead acetate paper. The test for nitrogen is thus not affected by the presence of sulphur this constitutes an advantage of the method. 

Prepare the zinc powder - sodium carbonate mixture by grinding together in a dry, clean mortar 25 g. of A.R. anhydrous sodium carbonate and 50 g. of the purest obtainable zinc powder. The reagent is unlikely to contain nitrogen, but traces of sulphur and halogens may be present. It is therefore essential to carry out a blank or control test for sulphur and halogens with every fresh batch of the mixture. 

This is another reason why aldehydes, ketones and esters must be tested for in the order already given, and why it is necessary to employ both the sodium and acetyl chloride testa. 

Acetyl chloride test (for primary and secondary amines). In a semi-micro test-tube (75 x 10 mm.) treat 0-5 ml. (or 0-5 g.) of the compound with acetyl chloride drop by drop. Note whether reaction occurs. If no solid separates, pour the contents of the tube into 3 ml. of water and neutralise the aqueous layer with solid sodium bicarbonate. Observe whether a product different from the original compound is produced. 

These equations tell us that the reverse process proton transfer from acids to bicarbon ate to form carbon dioxide will be favorable when of the acid exceeds 4 3 X 10 (pK, < 6 4) Among compounds containing carbon hydrogen and oxygen only car boxylic acids are acidic enough to meet this requirement They dissolve m aqueous sodium bicarbonate with the evolution of carbon dioxide This behavior is the basis of a qualitative test for carboxylic acids... 

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