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Organic chemistry - (CCEA)Testing for organic compounds

An organic chemical contains the element carbon. There are four different homologous series of organic compounds discussed here: alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids.

Part of Chemistry (Single Science)Further chemical reactions, rates and equilibrium, calculations and organic chemistry

Testing for organic compounds

The table below shows the observations when a reaction occurs with organic compounds using certain tests. Make sure you can remember that is observed during these tests.

Organic compound	Test using bromine water	Test using acidified potassium dichromate solution	Test using magnesium ribbon
Alkanes	Remains orange	Remains orange	No fizzing
Alkenes	Changes from orange to colourless	Remains orange	No fizzing
Alcohols	Remains orange	Solution changes from orange to green	No fizzing
Carboxylic acid	Remains orange	Remains orange	Fizzing

Organic compound	Alkanes
Test using bromine water	Remains orange
Test using acidified potassium dichromate solution	Remains orange
Test using magnesium ribbon	No fizzing

Organic compound	Alkenes
Test using bromine water	Changes from orange to colourless
Test using acidified potassium dichromate solution	Remains orange
Test using magnesium ribbon	No fizzing

Organic compound	Alcohols
Test using bromine water	Remains orange
Test using acidified potassium dichromate solution	Solution changes from orange to green
Test using magnesium ribbon	No fizzing

Organic compound	Carboxylic acid
Test using bromine water	Remains orange
Test using acidified potassium dichromate solution	Remains orange
Test using magnesium ribbon	Fizzing

These tests can be used to distinguish between different organic compounds.

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