You will need
  • - copper wire;
  • - nitrate of silver;
  • - alkali;
  • - ammonia solution;
  • the flask, test tubes;
  • - heating devices.
Instruction
1
In order to identify the proposed substance is enough to accurately identify only one of them. The second will be determined by elimination. The simplest reaction that can be carried out on the determination of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is its interaction with copper oxide (I). This reaction can be easily done even at home.
2
Take an ordinary copper wire, make the end loop and calcined for tribe burner, spirit lamp or burner. Follow these same steps with the second wire. As a result of oxidation they are covered with black patina – it will be copper oxide. As received lower them in the tank with the analyte. One of them, the wire will again become its original color and Shine, as there will be recovery of copper from copper oxide. Another confirmation of the presence of ethanol will be the appearance of the characteristic odor of acetaldehyde. Exactly in the interaction of ethyl alcohol with the copper oxide formed acetaldehyde, copper and water. The second substance (ethanal) determine by process of elimination.
3
For reliability, you can additionally carry out a qualitative reaction characteristic of aldehydes. This is the reaction of silver mirror, which represents a reduction of silver in the pure form of ammonia solution of silver oxide (reagent Tollens). To obtain good result, the utensils for the experiment must be perfectly clean, otherwise it often happens that the experience fails. Fill the flask to ¼ silver nitrate, then add alkali (e.g. potassium hydroxide or sodium), followed by small doses of hcl solution of ammonia. To the resulting solution add very carefully, pouring on the wall of the flask, acetaldehyde (ethanal). Put the resulting solution in a water bath (it is permissible to omit the flask in a container of boiling water). After some time there will be a formation of the silver coating, which is a beautiful subtle silver layer.