CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS In Lucas test, no reaction were formed when the test

compounds reacted with the Lucas reagent. A

On this experiment, several tests were used to
possible reason for this was the contamination of the
analyze the hydroxyl group, the functional group
reagent upon usage. Theoretically, alcohols that
found in alcohols. Alcohols were identified as primary,
reacted with Lucas reagent within 5 minutes can be
secondary or tertiary according to the tests
classified as tertiary then secondary alcohols reacted
performed.
within 5-10 minutes.
The first test conducted is the solubility test where
In oxidation test, the test compounds were oxidized
water is the solvent. Test compounds used were
using 10% potassium chromate added in dilute
ethanol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl
sulfuric acid. Tert-butanol did not show any presence
alcohol, benzyl alcohol, glycerol and phenol. It was
of reaction since it cannot be further oxidized. Ethanol
found that only ethanol, sec-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl
was oxidized into ethanal and isopropanol oxidized
alcohol and glycerol were soluble in water. This is
into acetone. It can be said that only primary and
because hydrogen bonding between these molecules
secondary alcohols are reactive in this test.
and water are high enough compared to other
alcohols making it soluble in water. In iodoform test, a formation of yellow precipitate was
observed on the test compounds when reacted with
There are also tests performed to differentiate
iodine in potassium iodide and sodium hydroxide. The
alcohols from phenols. These were acidity/basicity
product is a sodium ethanoate for isopropanol and a
test, sodium metal test, acetyl chloride test, Lucas
sodium formate for ethanol. The yellow precipitate is
test, oxidation reaction test, iodoform test, bromine
the iodoform. Since they reacted, it means a methyl
water test, and ferric chloride test.
group can be found attached on the carbon bearing
In the acidity/basicity test, it was found that phenol is the hydroxyl group.
more acidic than ethanol. These can also be seen
In the bromine water test, phenol produced white
when litmus paper was tested on both compounds.
precipitate and benzyl alcohol changed from colorless
The reason for this was the concept of resonance.
to brown. Since the phenol reacted, it means that the
When phenol was deprotonated, it still has stable
aromatic ring is activated while benzyl alcohol is weak
conjugate base making it more acidic compared to
activator.
ethanol. Moreover, phenol produced more resonance
structures than that of ethanol. The last test performed was the ferric chloride test.
Phenol was reactive producing black solution while
In sodium metal test, phenol was the quickest to react
benzyl alcohol was unreactive. This is an excellent
followed by n-butanol, sec-butanol, and lastly tert-
test for differentiating alcohols from phenols.
butanol. Phenol is the most acidic out of these
compounds. The branchings of the carbon bearing To further assess these tests, several compounds
the hydroxyl group affects the rate of the reaction due were given and these tests were to distinguish them
to steric effects, making the the tert-butanol least apart. The first set was the isomeric five-carbon
reactive and n-butanol most reactive out of these saturated alcohols. Tertiary alcohols will react in
saturated alcohol isomers. Lucas reagent within 5 minutes of reaction while the
other isomers will have slower reaction time. The
In acetyl chloride test, esters are formed when
primary and secondary alcohols can be oxidized into
alcohols react with acetyl chloride. The presence of
ester when reacted with acetyl chloride test while
an ester is indicated by a formation of a layer in the
tertiary alcohol will not react. Primary and secondary
solution. Since the test compounds reacted, the
alcohols will be oxidized into carboxylic acid and
carbon bearing the hydroxyl group is either primary or
ketone, respectively while tertiary alcohols will have
secondary.
no reaction when tested with potassium dichromate.
If allyl alcohol and propanol were to be reacted with
Lucas reagent, allyl alcohol will react faster than
propanol because the carbocation formed on the
former is resonance stabilized.
Benzyl alcohol and cyclohexanol can be differentiated
using Lucas test and sodium metal test. In Lucas test,
benzylic alcohol is reactive due to its resonance
stabilized carbocation. In sodium metal test,
cyclohexanol will react faster than benzylic alcohol
since the former is a secondary alcohol.
To distinguish benzyl alcohol from phenol, bromine
water test and ferric chloride test can be used. Phenol
will not decolorize but the benzyl alcohol will
decolorize into brown when reacted with bromine
water. In ferric chloride test, phenol will form black
iron complex while benzyl alcohol will be unreactive.
Differentiating cyclohexanol from 1-
methycyclohexanol will use sodium metal, acetyl
chloride, Lucas, oxidation and iodoform test. In
sodium metal test, cyclohexanol will react faster than
1-methylcyclohexanol because cyclohexanol is
secondary alcohol. In acetyl chloride, cyclohexanol
will form a layer while 1-methylcyclohexanol will not.
In Lucas test, 1-methylcyclohexanol will react faster
than cyclohexanol. In oxidation test, chromic acid will
oxidized cyclohexanol while 1-methylcyclohexanol will
not react because it is tertiary alcohol. Lastly, in
iodoform test, only 1-methylcyclohexanol will form
iodoform or the precipitate.
O-cresol and anisole can be distinguished using
sodium metal test and acetyl chloride test. Only o-
cresol will react with both tests while the anisole will
not.
To differentiate benzyl alcohol from anisole, sodium
metal test and acetyl chloride test can be used. Only
benzyl alcohol will react with both tests while the
anisole will not.
The objectives of this experiment were met which
were to examine and differentiate the properties of
alcohols and phenols and to visualize the
characteristic reactions of alcohols and phenols. It
can be recommended that the reactions must be
observed for a longer period of time since the other
reactions were not totally completed.
It can be recommended that reactions can be
performed only if the reagents used are free from any
contaminations. These can be done by performing the
experiment under the fumehood and avoiding
exposure to air. Any reactions using contaminated
reagents will induce erroneous results.