CHARACTERIZATION OF

HYDROCARBONS
REPORT BY: Group 3
Hydrocarbons
• Hydrocarbons are the simplest kind of organic
compounds which contain only carbon and hydrogen.
• Can be classified as:
• Aliphatic hydrocarbons- composed of open chain
carbons.
• Alicyclic and aromatic compounds- composed of
closed chain/ ring system of carbon atoms.
• Aromatic hydrocarbons- Their molecules are
planar that possess a conjugated double bond
system. It obeys the Huckel’s rule.
Hydrocarbons
• Hydrocarbons are nonpolar compounds that are
insoluble in water and polar solvents.
• Short chain hydrocarbons are gases
• Medium chain hydrocarbons are liquids
. Long chain hydrocarbons are solids that held
together by Van der Waals forces.
Saturated and Unsaturated
Hydrocarbons
• Saturated hydrocarbons like alkanes are inert
substances and can be characterized by physical
methods like infrared spectroscopy, refractive
index and the like.
• Unsaturated hydrocarbons like alkenes and
alkynes can undergo addition reactions through
an electrophilic mechanism. These reaction
types are accompanied by breaking of the pi
bond/s and the formation of sigma bonds.
Saturated and Unsaturated
Hydrocarbons
• Ex. Alkenes can be detected by its reaction
with bromine or potassium permanganate or
simply the Baeyer’s Test.
• Both reactions involve decolorization of the
reagents bromine and potassium permanganate to
give colorless compounds.
• Unsaturated hydrocarbon can also be detected it
with the use of a flame test since they give a
yellow flame.
• Substituted aromatics like alkylbenzene can be
characterized using oxidation with basic
permanganate.
Saturated and Unsaturated
Hydrocarbons
• Unsaturated hydrocarbon in its formation
experienced a decrease in the number of
hydrogen. This could be expressed in terms of
index of hydrogen deficiency.
Properties of Hydrocarbons
In combustion, hydrocarbons burn in the presence
of oxygen. When it is complete, it gives off
carbon dioxide and water.
One of unsaturated compounds characteristics is
it produces more sooty flames when undergoing
combustion.
Baeyer’s Test
a. Addition of Bromine
Addition of bromine is used to test if a
hydrocarbon contains an alkene. Bromine doesn’t
react with alkanes because it only contains
single carbon-carbon bond. When alkenes react
with bromine, it will lose its red-brown color
immediately.

CH3CH=CH CH3 + Br2

CH3CH-CHCH3
Baeyer’s Test
b. Reaction with Potassium Permanganate
Alkanes doesn’t react with Potassium
permanganate because they are already saturated.
When potassium permanganate is added to an
alkene, the violet color of potassium
permanganate will slowly change and a brown
permanganate precipitate will be seen because it
is unsaturated.
Procedure
1. Solubility
Place 2 mL of water in a test tube add 3 drops of the following
hydrocarbon to be tested separately; cyclohexane, toluene, n-
heptane, 1-hexane. Shake the mixture to determine whether the
hydrocarbon is soluble. Record your results and save the mixture
for test 2.
Procedure
2. Relative Density
Reexamine the mixtures in test 1 and decide in each
case whether the hydrocarbon is more dense or less dense
than water.
Procedure
3. Flammability
Place 3 drops of the hydrocarbon on an evaporating
dish and ignite it with a match. Note the nature of the
flame: more sooty flames are characteristic of
unsaturated compounds.
Procedure
4. Baeyer’s Test for Unsaturation
a. Addition of Bromine
Dissolve 3 drops of hydrocarbon in 1 mL
methylene chloride(DCM) in a test tube. Add dropwise a
2% solution of bromine dissolve in methylene chloride with
shaking. The loss of bromine color is an indication of an
unsaturated compound.
Procedure
4. Baeyer’s Test for Unsaturation
b. Reaction with Potassium Permanganate
Dissolve 3 drops of the hydrocarbon in 1 mL of
acetone and then add a dropwise 1% solution of KMnO4
with shaking. A loss of the purple color of the
permanganate solution indicates that a reaction has taken
place and that the hydrocarbon is unsaturated.
Procedure
5. Test for Aromaticity
Mix 1 mL of conc. Sulfuric acid and 10 drops of
conc. Nitric acid in a test tube and allow the heat of
reaction to subside. Add 4 drops of the hydrocarbon to be
tested (cyclohexane and toluene only) and place the test
tube in a 55 to 60O C water bath for 10 minutes, shaking
it at short intervals. After 10 minute, pour the contents
over approx. 5 g of crushed ice.
Procedure
6. Test for Alkylbenzenes
Place 4 drops of the hydrocarbon (cyclohexane and
toluene) in a test tube and add 8 drops of 1% aqueous
KMnO4 and 3 drops of 10% NaOH. Warm the mixture in a
water bath at 60O for 2 minutes and observe the changes.
Actual Photos
Actual Photos
Data and Results
A.
Group 1:

Hydrocarbons Solubility Relative Density Flammability

1. cyclohexane immiscible Less dense Yellow flame; saturated

2. toluene immiscible Less dense Sooty; unsaturated

3. n-hexane immiscible Less dense Blue flame; saturated
4- 1-hexene immiscible Less dense Sooty; unsaturated

Group 2:
Hydrocarbons Solubility Relative Density Flammability
1. cyclohexane insoluble Less dense saturated
2. toluene immiscible Less dense unsaturated
3. n-hexane immiscible Less dense saturated
4- 1-hexene immiscible Less dense saturated
Data and Results
A.
Group 3:

Hydrocarbons Solubility Relative Density Flammability

1. cyclohexane Insoluble Less dense
2. toluene Insoluble Less dense
3. n-hexane Insoluble Less dense
4- 1-hexene Insoluble Less dense

Group 4:
Hydrocarbons Solubility Relative Density Flammability
1. cyclohexane
2. toluene
3. n-hexane
4- 1-hexene
Data and Results
B.
Group 1:

Hydrocarbons Addition of Bromine Reaction with KMnO4

1. cyclohexane Red in color; Saturated Unsaturated due to contamination
2. toluene Br color fades; Unsaturated Unsaturated
3. n-hexane Bright red color; Saturated Unsaturated due to contamination
4- 1-hexene Clear color; Unsaturated Unsaturated

Group 2:
Hydrocarbons Addition of Bromine Reaction with KMnO4
1. cyclohexane saturated unsaturated
2. toluene unsaturated unsaturated
3. n-hexane saturated unsaturated
4- 1-hexene Unsaturated unsaturated
Data and Results
B.
Group 3:

Hydrocarbons Addition of Bromine Reaction with KMnO4

1. cyclohexane Saturated Unsaturated**
2. toluene Unsaturated Unsaturated
3. n-hexane Saturated Unsaturated**
4- 1-hexene Unsaturated Unsaturated

Group 4:
Hydrocarbons Addition of Bromine Reaction with KMnO4
1. cyclohexane
2. toluene
3. n-hexane
4- 1-hexene
Data and Results
C.
Group 1:

Hydrocarbons Test for Aromaticity Test for Alkylbenzene

1. cyclohexane White clear crystals blue green color turns yellowish w/
reddish brown precipitate
2. toluene Creamy white crystal formed No changes occur; green

Group 2:
Hydrocarbons Test for Aromaticity Test for Alkylbenzene
1. cyclohexane Did not react Did not react
2. toluene Reacted Reacted
Data and Results
C.
Group 3:

Hydrocarbons Test for Aromaticity Test for Alkylbenzene

1. cyclohexane Formation of gas Violet-blue-green-light green
colorization
2. toluene Formation of crystals Violet-dark green-bright green
colorization

Group 4:
Hydrocarbons Test for Aromaticity Test for Alkylbenzene
1. cyclohexane
2. toluene