Principle A known mass of organic compound is heated in the presence of pure oxygen. The carbon dioxide and water formed are collected and weighed. The percentages of carbon and hydrogen in the compound are calculated from the masses of carbon dioxide and water. Estimation of carbon and hydrogen in an organic compound is based on their conversion to CO, and H20 respectively. The percentage of carbon and hydrogen are calculated from the masses of C02and H,0.
CH + f x +—lo, heat ) xCO, + ^-H20 * y a 2 9 Procedure The apparatus consists of a long glass tube. This is called combustion tube. To one end of this tube, a U-tube containing anhydrous calcium chloride and a bottle containing concentrated potassium hydroxide solution (caustic potash) are attached in series. These in turn, are connected to a guard tube containing anhydrous calcium chloride.
The combustion tube is packed with cupric oxide and copper guaze. The other end of the tube has a provision for passing oxygen. The combustion tube is heated in a furnace. The U-tube and the caustic potash bottle are weighed before the start of the experiment. The combustion tube is heated strongly in a current of pure and dry oxygen to remove moisture and C02 that may be present.
A known mass of the organic compound taken in a porcelain boat is placed in the combustion tube and strongly heated. The organic compound is oxidized by cupric oxide to C02 and HzO (Nitrogen, if present is also oxidized to oxides of nitrogen. These are reduced back to nitrogen by copper).
The combustion products first pass through the U-tube containing anhydrous calcium chloride (absorption of H20) and then through the caustic potash bottle (absorption of C02). The U-tube and the caustic potash bottle are weighed after cooling them to laboratory temperature.
Mass of organic compound = m g
Increase in mass of U-tube = mass of HzO = a g
Increase in mass of caustic potash bottle = .mass of COz = b g
18 g (1 mole) water contains = 2 g hydrogen
a g water will contain = ^ x a = xgof hydrogen
m g organic compound contains = x g hydrogen
100 g organic compound will contains = — x 100 g of hydrogen
= — x—xlOO 18 m
2 mass of water x 100
Percentage of hydrogen in the compound = —x-
18 mass of organic compound
44 g (1 mole) carbon dioxide contains = 12 g carbon
b g carbon dioxide contains = 77 x b = y g of carbon
o 44
m g organic compound contains = y g of carbon
y
100 g organic compound will contain = — x 100 g of C
12 b in_ = —x—xlOO 44 m
. 12 x mass of carbon dioxide x 100
Percentage of carbon in the compound = --
44 x mass of organic compound
MIMfe __. _1
Depending upon the composition of organic compound, the following modifications are made in the estimation of carbon and hydrogen by Liebigs method. ''
• Compounds containing nitrogen: During combustion, organic nitrogen is oxidized to its oxides (NO, NO2) which are also absorbed in KOH solution along with CO2. A porcelain boat containing lead dioxide is placed in the combustion tube next to the compound which absorbs only oxides of nitrogen. Alternatively, oxides of nitrogen are reduced to nitrogen by passing over preheated copper gauze placed near the exit of combustion tube.
• Compounds containing sulphur: During combustion, organic sulphur is oxidized to sulphur dioxide which is absorbed in KOH solution. Sulphur dioxide is selectively absorbed by a lead chromate layer placed after CuO layer in the combustion tube.
4PbCr04 + 4S02 -^^->4PbS04 + 2Cr,03 + Oz
• Compounds containing halogen: Organic halogens are converted into volatile cupric halides which are absorbed in KOH solution. A roll of silver gauze is placed near the exider of combustion tube. The volatile cupric halides are decomposed, forming stable silver halides.
CuX2 + 2Ag->2AgX + Cu
X2 +2Ag——>2AgX
