Lab Work
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Lab Work

When you are in the lab, be sure you to take time to perform Part III of this week's Experiment. Among the other aspects of aldehydes that you will study is oxidation, an example of which is shown below.

H H H O
| | | ||
H-C-C-C-C-H
| | | 
H H H  		oxidation
¾¾¾¾¾¾®		 H H H O 
| | | ||
H-C-C-C-C-OH
| | |  
H H H  

One of the oxidizing agents that can cause this reaction is CrO3 in sulfuric acid. K2Cr2O7, potassium dichromate, in sulfuric acid is nearly identical. When the chromium(VI) reacts with an aldehyde, it changes colors just the same as when it is reacting with an alcohol. Because of this, you cannot tell them apart, using this reaction. That is one of the limitations or drawbacks with this particular lab test.

When you do the lab work for aldehydes, you will become familiar with another reaction that can be used to distinguish between aldehydes and alcohols. It is the Schiff reaction.

 

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E-mail instructor: Eden Francis

Clackamas Community College
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