Question

Chemistry Experiment:

Scenario: Your group is working as analytical chemistry interns with the MSU Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). EHS is responsible for the collection and disposal of all chemical waste on campus. Today, an unidentified white compound was discovered in one of the teaching labs, and your team has been called in to assist with the identification of the compound. Since your team is responsible for safe disposal of the compound, you will also need to determine as many of its physical and chemical properties as possible. EHS does not want to mix it with other waste that could create a potentially dangerous reaction. To complete the work assigned you must: Identify the unknown compound. Discover as many chemical and physical properties of the compound as you can. Devise two syntheses of the compound, and compare them for cost effectiveness, safety and potential yield of compound. You will be given five grams (no more) of the compound; you will not know the identity of the compound, nor will you be given any other information about it

Answer 1

First of all check the solubility of the compound. If it is soluble of organic media or aqueous media. Recording the ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, High resolution mass spectra, FTIR and melting point of the solid, we will be able to identify the molecular formula and structure of the compound along with the functional groups present in the specified position.

Depending upon the functional group present, we will perform the reactions with reagents which are commercially available.

Identify the unknown compound. Discover as many chemical and physical properties of the compound as you can. Devise two syntheses of the compound, and compare them for cost effectiveness, safety and potential yield of compound. You will be given five grams (no more) of the compound; you will not know the identity of the compound, nor will you be given any other information about it