RP6

• Test for an alcohol: metal


  1. Add a small piece of metallic sodium to alcohol

  2. Produces hydrogen gas which is shown by 'squeaky pop' test

  3. Dispose any excess sodium safely using the beaker of ethanol provided
• Test for an alcohol: potassium dichromate

  1. Add acidified potassium dichromate to the solution

  2. Primary and secondary alcohols will reduced from orange dichromate(VI) ions to green chromium(III) ions

  3. It will remain orange if a tertiary alcohol is present
• Test for an aldehyde: Fehling's solution

  1. Mix together equal volumes of Fehling's solution A and Fehling's solution B

  2. Add 5 drops of this test reagent to a test tube along with a few anti-bumping granules, then add the aldehyde

  3. Warm gently for around two minutes in a beaker of hot water, gradually bring the beaker of water to boiling and maintain this temperature for a few minutes

  4. Carefully lift the test tube out of the boiling water and allow its contents to stand for several minutes

  5. A brick red precipitate formed if an aldehyde is present
• Test for an alkene: bromine water


  1. Add about 1 cm3 of bromine water to 2 drops alkene

  2. Shake the contents of the tube vigorously from side to side

  3. Bromine water decolourised from orange if an alkene is present
• Test for a carboxylic acid: sodium carbonate


  1. Place spatula of solid sodium carbonate in a test tube and add about 2 cm3 of dilute ethanoic acid using a pipette

  2. Collect the gas produced and bubble through limewater (calcium hydroxide)

  3. It will turns cloudy if a carboxylic acid is present as CO2 is produced
• Test for a halogenoalkane: sodium hydroxide and silver nitrate


  1. Using a teat pipette, add 5 drops of 1-bromobutane to about 1cm3 of sodium hydroxide solution in a test tube

  2. Warm the contents of the test tube for a few minutes in a beaker filled with hot water at approximately 60°C

  3. Acidify the contents of the test tube by adding 2cm3 of dilute nitric acid and then add about 1cm3 of silver nitrate solution