Within the following task I am going to use appropriate apparatus and techniques to

synthesis pure cyclohexene and sodium sulphate.

Synthesising cyclohexene: The synthesis of cyclohexene is by dehydration of cyclohexanol
and to understand the process of dehydration as an elimination reaction.

Method: The experiment made use of a mixture of conc. sulphuric and phosphoric acid as
dehydrating agent, which is characterized by the poor nucleophilic property of its anion. The
reaction occurs slowly in normal conditions, but we chose to quicken it by heating. The
reaction is set up under a simple distillation apparatus in order to remove the cyclohexene in
the product mixture while it is formed. This prevented backwards reactions and other side
reactions.
The distillates are washed with NaCl solution to remove cyclohexanol present in the product.
The aqueous layer of the mixture is extracted by a separating funnel. The organic layer is
further dried and purified by anhydrous calcium chloride, which could form molecule
complex with cyclohexanol and water. The mixture requires further distillation to extract the
dried cyclohexene.
Apparatus and chemicals:
Cyclohexanol
Concentrated sulphuric and phosphoric acid mixture.
Anhydrous calcium chloride
Saturated NaCl solution
Ice-bath
Boiling tubes
Quick fit apparatus for simple distillation
Thermometer

Safety precaution:
1. Phosphoric acid (85%) can cause severe burns. Wash all spills on the skin with cold
water for 15 min. See your demonstrator.
2. Cyclohexanol can be irritating to the respiratory system and skin. Do not breathe
vapours and prevent contact with skin.
3. Cyclohexene has an unpleasant smell. Cover all containers of this compound and do
not leave drying agent, glass wool or towels coated with the compound lying on the
bench.
Synthesising barium sulphate: Barium sulphate is an inorganic compound with the
chemical formula BaSO4. It is a white crystalline solid that is famously insoluble in water.
There are several ways to produce barium sulphate but I will choose addition reaction of
barium chloride + magnesium sulphate. Barium chloride plus magnesium sulphate produce
barium sulphate and magnesium chloride. Sodium chloride does not produce during this
reaction. It is a double displacement reaction between barium chloride and magnesium
sulphate. The balanced equation of this reaction is;
BaCl2 + MgSO4
BaSO4 + MgCl2
2+
2Ba + SO44
BaSO4
Two moles of reactants are involved in this reaction including one mole of barium chloride
and one mole of magnesium sulphate. One mole of magnesium chloride and one mole of
barium sulphate are produced as a product.
Apparatus:

Method:
1) Measuring 10cm3 of barium chloride and magnesium sulphate
2) Mixing both solutions into a beaker
3) Stirring the solution using stirring rod for 2 minutes
4) Weighing a filter paper
5) Filtering the solution using filter funnel
6) Weighing an empty watch glass on top of the weighing scale
7) Placing the filter paper and solid onto the watch glass
8) Leaving the solid barium sulphate to dry in the oven for 24 hours
9) Re-weighing the solid
10) Calculating the mass of the barium sulphate
Importance of chemicals: Barium chloride is the ionic chemical compound with the formula
BaCl2. It is one of the most important water-soluble salts of barium. As a cheap, soluble salt
of barium, barium chloride finds wide application in the laboratory. It is commonly used as a
test for sulphate ion.
On the other hand Magnesium sulphate is a compound containing magnesium, sulphur and
oxygen, with the formula MgSO4. The magnesium sulphate is obviously soluble and this is
why barium sulphate is formed as a white precipitate during the test for sulphate ions in
solution. The ready formation of a precipitate shows that the barium sulphate must be pretty
insoluble.
Safety precaution: Barium chloride, along with other water-soluble barium salts, is highly
toxic. Sodium sulphate and magnesium sulphate are potential antidotes because they form the
insoluble solid barium sulphate BaSO4, which is much less toxic. Although soluble salts of
barium are moderately toxic to humans, barium sulphate is nontoxic due to its insolubility.
The most common means of inadvertent barium poisoning arises from the consumption of
soluble bariums salts mislabelled as BaSO4.

Refferences:
http://www.e-radiography.net/contrast_media/contrast_media_barium_sulphate.htm
http://www.solvay-bariumstrontium.com/
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/chemistry/chemistry-iii/s-blockelements/magnesium-and-calcium.php
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Barium-Swallow-/-Meal-/-Follow-Through.htm