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Systematic Tests for Organic Functional Groups

Experiment video

What you will learn

Perform characteristic chemical diagnostic tests to detect the presence of Carbonyl (Aldehyde/Ketone), Carboxylic Acid, and Alcoholic functional groups in organic compounds.

Materials needed

Organic test samples: Formaldehyde/Acetaldehyde, Acetone, Acetic acid, Ethanol mL each
Organic test samples: Formaldehyde/Acetaldehyde, Acetone, Acetic acid, Ethanol mL each
₹50
What is it?
Set of diagnostic organic analytical reagents in amber dropper bottles.
Specifications
Reagents
Silver Nitrate (5%), Dilute NH4OH (2M), Fehling A, Fehling B, Saturated NaHCO3, Neutral FeCl3 (1%)
Purity
AR Analytical Grade
Bottles
60 mL amber dropper bottles with glass pipettes
Tollens' Reagent (Ammoniacal Silver Nitrate, freshly prepared) mL
Tollens' Reagent (Ammoniacal Silver Nitrate, freshly prepared) mL
₹95
What is it?
Pure organic reference test substances.
Specifications
Substances
Acetaldehyde (5%), Acetic acid (pure), Phenol (pure), Ethanol (99%), Acetone (pure)
Quantity
50 mL each
Grade
Spectroscopic / Analytical grade
Fehling's Solution A and Fehling's Solution B mL each
Fehling's Solution A and Fehling's Solution B mL each
₹140
What is it?
Thermostatically controlled electric laboratory water bath.
Specifications
Temperature Range
Ambient to 100 °C
Stability
± 0.5 °C
Rack
Stainless steel test tube rack for 12 tubes
Power
500 W heater with digital display
Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) 10% solution mL
Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) 10% solution mL
₹185
What is it?
Standard laboratory apparatus used in Systematic Tests for Organic Functional Groups.
Specifications
Category
Chemistry Apparatus
Grade
CBSE / NEP 2020 Laboratory Standard
Neutral Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) solution mL
Neutral Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) solution mL
₹230
What is it?
Standard laboratory apparatus used in Systematic Tests for Organic Functional Groups.
Specifications
Category
Chemistry Apparatus
Grade
CBSE / NEP 2020 Laboratory Standard
Ceric Ammonium Nitrate reagent mL
Ceric Ammonium Nitrate reagent mL
₹275
What is it?
Standard laboratory apparatus used in Systematic Tests for Organic Functional Groups.
Specifications
Category
Chemistry Apparatus
Grade
CBSE / NEP 2020 Laboratory Standard
Test tubes, test tube holder, water bath, and burner set
Test tubes, test tube holder, water bath, and burner set
₹320
What is it?
Standard laboratory apparatus used in Systematic Tests for Organic Functional Groups.
Specifications
Category
Chemistry Apparatus
Grade
CBSE / NEP 2020 Laboratory Standard

Tick items as you collect them. Tap + to see the product, specifications and buy options.

Stay safe

Always prepare Tollens' reagent freshly; do not store as it forms explosive silver fulminate on standing.
Use warm water baths instead of direct flames when heating flammable organic liquids.
Discard silver mirror residues immediately by dissolving in dilute nitric acid.
Neutralize acidic and alkaline waste before disposal.

Steps

0 of 5 steps done

1Tollens' Silver Mirror Test for Aldehydes: Add 2 mL freshly prepared Tollens' reagent to 1 mL aldehyde sample in a clean test tube. Warm gently in a 60°C water bath for 5 minutes without shaking. A brilliant silver mirror coats the tube wall.
Observation
Prepare fresh Tollens' reagent: to 2 mL 5% AgNO3 add 2 drops NaOH, then add dilute NH4OH dropwise until brown precipitate just dissolves.
Safety
Always prepare Tollens' reagent fresh; never store it as explosive silver fulminate forms on standing.
2Fehling's Test for Aldehydes: Mix equal volumes (1 mL each) of Fehling's A and B. Add 1 mL sample and heat in boiling water bath. A red precipitate of Cuprous Oxide (Cu2O) confirms aldehyde.
Observation
Add 3 drops of test sample (acetaldehyde); warm in water bath at 60°C without shaking.
Safety
Never heat Tollens' tube directly over open Bunsen burner flame; use warm water bath.
3Sodium Bicarbonate Test for Carboxylic Acid: Add 1 mL saturated NaHCO3 to 1 mL acetic acid sample. Immediate brisk effervescence occurs; pass the gas through lime water to turn it milky (confirms CO2).
Observation
Within 2 minutes, glistening metallic silver plates out on test tube glass, creating a perfect reflective mirror.
Safety
Wash silver mirror immediately with dilute nitric acid (HNO3) before discarding.
4Esterification Test: Warm 1 mL ethanol, 1 mL acetic acid, and 2 drops conc. H2SO4; pour into water to detect characteristic fruity pleasant aroma of ethyl acetate.
Observation
Test carboxylic sample with saturated NaHCO3: vigorous effervescence of CO2 bubbles vigorously.
Safety
Direct gas evolution via bent delivery tube into lime water to confirm white CaCO3 turbidity.
5Ceric Ammonium Nitrate Test for Alcohols: Add reagent to sample; red color confirms aliphatic alcohol.
Observation
Test phenol sample with 1% neutral FeCl3: immediate intense ink-violet coloration confirms phenolic -OH.
Safety
Ensure FeCl3 is strictly neutral (boiled with NH4OH until faint precipitate and filtered).

Tap + on a step to see what you will observe and any safety tips.

Record your observations

Functional Group Test	Reagent & Reaction Conditions	Observation	Confirmed Functional Group
Tollens' Silver Mirror Test	Ammoniacal Silver Nitrate + Warm water bath	Gleaming specular silver mirror coats inside of test tube	Aldehydic Group (-CHO)
Fehling's Test	Fehling A + B equal volume + Boil 2 mins	Deep blue color turns to brick-red cuprous oxide (Cu2O↓) ppt	Aliphatic Aldehyde (-CHO)
Sodium Bicarbonate Test	Saturated NaHCO3 solution at room temp	Brisk effervescence of CO2 gas turns lime water milky	Carboxylic Acid (-COOH)
Neutral FeCl3 Test	Neutral Ferric Chloride solution + gentle shake	Intense violet / purple coloration forms	Phenolic Group (Ar-OH)
Cerium Ammonium Nitrate Test	CAN reagent dissolved in dilute HNO3	Color changes from yellow to blood-red	Alcoholic Group (-OH)

Tap a highlighted cell to write your own observation.

Result and conclusion

Aldehyde confirmed via Tollens' test yielding a shiny reflective silver mirror on glass walls; Carboxylic acid confirmed via vigorous effervescence of CO2 gas with sodium bicarbonate.

R-CHO + 2 [Ag(NH3)2]⁺ + 3 OH⁻ -> R-COO⁻ + 2 Ag↓ (Brilliant Silver Mirror) + 4 NH3 + 2 H2O

Observation	What it means
Selective Reduction of Tollens'	Aldehydes readily reduce Ag⁺ to metallic silver which plates the clean glass wall as a shining mirror, while ketones fail to react.
Carboxylic Acid Effervescence	Carboxylic acids (-COOH) are stronger acids than carbonic acid, displacing CO2 with brisk effervescence (RCOOH + NaHCO3 -> RCOONa + H2O + CO2↑).
Phenolic Coordination Complex	Phenols form a brightly colored hexakis-phenolate iron complex [Fe(OAr)6]³⁻ responsible for the diagnostic deep violet hue.
Diagnostic Systematics	A battery of orthogonal chemical tests definitively classifies unknown organic compounds without ambiguity.

Relative Oxidation Rate of Carbonyls by Tollens' Reagent at 60°C

Sample readings. Replace with your own results.

Experiment photos

Before the experimentDuring the experimentResult