Sciencemadness Discussion Board
Not logged in [Login ]
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Can anyone help ID a substance?
Alastair
Hazard to Self
**




Posts: 59
Registered: 13-7-2011
Member Is Offline

Mood: Barely any solvent in my emulsion

[*] posted on 12-8-2012 at 01:49
Can anyone help ID a substance?


I just heated my redistilled ethanol with some sodium hydroxide to disolve it and the soln turned orange (something like lithium ethoxide on standing).
The ethanol should have been impure (lighter fluid) but the only contents listed were ethanol and water.
Any help on this?
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Alastair
Hazard to Self
**




Posts: 59
Registered: 13-7-2011
Member Is Offline

Mood: Barely any solvent in my emulsion

[*] posted on 12-8-2012 at 01:52


Sorry for double post, i found that NaOEt is orangeish in colour, but for a reaction like that i would need constant removal of water (NaOH + EtOH= NaOEt +H2O), i really doubt thats it.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
unionised
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 5126
Registered: 1-11-2003
Location: UK
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 12-8-2012 at 02:04


NaOEt isn't orange, it's white.
You don't need to remove water to generate it- the reaction is an equilibrium- there will be some ethoxide present

oxidation of alcohol by air will give acetaldehyde which will condense in the presence of strong bases to give yellow products.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Alastair
Hazard to Self
**




Posts: 59
Registered: 13-7-2011
Member Is Offline

Mood: Barely any solvent in my emulsion

[*] posted on 12-8-2012 at 02:10


Makes sense. Thank you.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Nicodem
Super Moderator
Thread Moved
12-8-2012 at 05:15

  Go To Top