Dehydrating Cyclohexanol

January 25, 2001

Jacqueline H. Ramirez

Objective:

Dehydrate cyclohexanol to prepare cyclohexene. Characterize cyclohexene by using ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate test, bromine test, infrared spectroscopy and/or refractive index.

Reagents:

Substance	Quantity (g)	Molar Mass (g/mol)	BP (^oC)	Density (g/ml)
CaCl2 (anhy)	0.25	110.99
cyclohexanol	2.84	100.16	160	0.948
cyclohexene		82.15	83	0.811
Phosphoric acid conc.	4.0 ml	98.00		1.685
Sulfuric Acid	0.2 ml	98.08		1.840

Chemical Alert:

Anhydrous calcium choride- irritant and hygroscopic

cyclohexanol-- irritant and hygroscopic

cyclohexene -flammable and irritant

phosphoric acid- corrosive

sulfuric acid- toxic and oxidizer

Procedure:

• Assemble the distillation apparatus
• Add cyclohexanol, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid to the flask
• Distill the reaction mixture and collect the distillated in a receiver 
• Transfer the distillate to a test tube
• Remove he bottom layer of the distillate
• Dry the top layer with anhydrous calcium chloride
• Tare a sample vial
• Transfer the cyclohexene to the sample vial
• Weigh the cyclohexanol

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