Question

Postlab Questions (2 pts ea; 8 pts total be specific and answer all in complete sentences): 1. How would you distinguish benzaldehyde and acetophenone by the results of their qualitative tests

Answer 1

Using the Iodoform test, we can differentiate both compounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

Benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO -an aldehyde) and Acetophenone (C6H5COCH3 - a methyl ketone) can be differentiated by reacting both compounds with iodine in a basic (NaOH) solutions.

The methyl ketone (acetophenone) gives a pale yellow precipitate of triiodomethane (iodoform) while the aldehyde (benzaldehyde) would not react.

This is known as the IODOFORM test and is indicative for methyl ketones