khourygeo78 - 28-7-2016 at 08:39
So, I had nh4cl. I mixed it with water and ethanol, heated the solution for 24hours then distilled, I could easily separate ethanol,water and nh4cl as
no reaction took place
However, I forgot a solution consisting of nh4cl ethanol and water that were soaked mixed together for 2 months. The result was a certain quantity of
nh4cl turning black. I tried to distill, and got no ethanol at all, then augmented fire to distill the water, and I got a milky white water which was
as volatile as common water. At the bottom of the flask remained nh4cl and some of the black powder following the reaction with ethanol.
Does anyone know how and why nh4cl reacted with ethanol, and how it could form a white milky water after distillation?
Thanks for your time
Melgar - 28-7-2016 at 11:30
Ethanol will oxidize very slowly over time to acetal. NH4Cl can react with acetal, but I don't know to what end, or what side products would be
created.
morsagh - 29-7-2016 at 14:31
Did you used pure analytical ethanol? If not, it will explain a lot.
PHILOU Zrealone - 1-8-2016 at 06:10
CH3-CH2-OH + 1/2 O2 --> CH3-CH(OH)2 --> CH3-CH=O + H2O
NH4Cl <==--> NH3 + HCl
CH3-CH=O + NH3 --> CH3-CH=NH + H2O
CH3-CH=NH + HCl --> CH3-CH=NH2Cl
CH3-CH=O <--> CH2=CH-OH
CH3-CH=NH <--> CH2=CH-NH2
CH3-CH=NH2Cl <--> CH2=CH-NH3Cl
CH3-CH=O + CH3-CH=O -HCl-> CH3-CH=CH-CH=O + H2O
Condensation crotonisation into dark tarry products via polycondensation ... like CH3-CH=CH-CH=CH-CH=O
Then hyperconjugated pi system allows for dark colour and Diels Alder and Michael additions...thus very complex system of molecules in fine.
[Edited on 1-8-2016 by PHILOU Zrealone]