Organic Chemistry Laboratory Tests For Functional Groups
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1Organic Chemistry Laboratory Tests
For Functional Groups
Occasionally, on the DAT organic chemistry section, you’ll be asked about
one of the chemical lab tests you likely used in your lab sections to identify
the functional groups in a molecule. Below is a list of the most common lab
tests, which functional group they test for, and what a positive result looks
like.
Test
Reagent
Functional Group
Positive Result
Tested
Tollens’ Test
Ag
O / NH
Aldehydes
Sides of flask are
2
3
+
or Ag(NH
)
coated with a silver
3
2
mirror
-
Iodoform
I
/ OH
Methyl ketones
Yellow precipitate
2
Test
forms (CHI
)
3
Silver Nitrate
AgNO
in
Alkyl halides
Precipitate of Ag
3
in Alcohol
alcohol
compound formed
Bromine Test Br
/CCl
Alkenes and alkynes
Brown color of
2
4
Bromine disappears
Baeyer Test
Dilute KMnO
Alkenes and alkynes
Purple solution turns
4
to brown precipitate
Jones Test*
CrO
/ H
SO
1° and 2° alcohols
Orange reagent
3
2
4
turns blue-green
Lucas Test
ZnCl
/ HCl
2°, 3°, and benzylic
Cloudy solution
2
alcohols
initially, then
separate layer forms
*Fun fact: The Jones Test is used in breathalyzers to test for drunk drivers.
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