How to distinguish Isopropanol?

**Si14** · Nov28-09, 04:13 PM

Hello:

I have a liquid in a bottle. I want to know whether it is Isopropanol or not. I want to distinguish it among Methanol, Acetone and Ethelin.

Can you help?

Thanks.

**pzona** · Nov28-09, 11:10 PM

There are a ton of methods for this, but some are easier and more practical. What kind of lab equipment do you have available, if any?

**Si14** · Nov28-09, 11:30 PM

Thanks.
I have those materials, and about stuffs, we've got Ni gas, ultrasonic bath and other ordinary equipments that can be found in any lab.

**pzona** · Nov29-09, 01:51 AM

I'm sure the best way would be to use spectroscopy (NMR, IR, etc.), but I don't know what type of lab you're in. Those machines can be found at most universities, which, if I had to guess, is the type of lab you mean.

I'm not sure what to do with Ni gas or an ultrasonic bath, as I've only had one semester of chem lab so far, not counting high school. I can't really give any specific methods (besides spectroscopy) for identifying your solvents, but I know someone else here can probably suggest something.

**chemisttree** · Nov29-09, 02:07 AM

Methanol isn't soluble in hexanes. Acetone will test positive for a methyl ketone(google "iodoform test"). BP of ethanol and acetone are pretty different from each other and from IPA. Any help?

**Si14** · Nov29-09, 04:28 AM

Thanks a lot!

Just to clear something: I know nothing about chemistry! I just wanted to know is there any "simple" way to distinguish Isopropanol from Acetone and Methane and Ethelin?
I used it for cleaning something.

Thanks again.

**sjb-2812** · Nov29-09, 10:54 AM

Just to confirm, is it methane, or methanol that is one of the unknowns you want to eliminate? And what is "Ethelin"? ethylene (ethene) ?

**Si14** · Nov29-09, 11:09 AM

Thanks again.

OK, we have four materials:
Isopropanol, Acetone, Methanol, Ethylene.
All of them are colorless, so I can't distinguish them by color.
I can somehow distinguish by smelling them.
But I want to know whether is there any other way to distinguish the Isopropanol among these materials?
So, I am interested in distinguishing Isopropanol.

Thanks alot.

**sjb-2812** · Nov29-09, 01:37 PM

Well, at room temperature and pressure, ethylene is a gas, so that's easily identified. Acetone will have a characteristic IR stretch for the carbonyl, and methanol and IPA have a difference of around 20 degrees C for boiling point, so that's enough of a difference to separate them if you're careful.

**Si14** · Nov29-09, 02:19 PM

Thank you very much.

Originally Posted by sjb-2812

ethylene is a gas

I think I gave you a wrong name. Since it is a liquid, so I think it is Ethanol.

Originally Posted by sjb-2812

Acetone will have a characteristic IR stretch for the carbonyl.

What is this IR stretch? (as I said, I am not familiar with chemistry and I am using this IPA for cleaning only)

Originally Posted by sjb-2812

methanol and IPA have a difference of around 20 degrees C for boiling point

Great! So far, I can distinguish methanol and IPA? BTW, can I simply pour some of these two liquids in separate beakers and then warm them up to boil? and I will notice which one boils first. Is this correct?

Thanks a lot again.

**pzona** · Nov29-09, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by chemisttree

Methanol isn't soluble in hexanes. Acetone will test positive for a methyl ketone(google "iodoform test"). BP of ethanol and acetone are pretty different from each other and from IPA. Any help?

Considering you know very little about chemistry, boiling point might be the easiest way to distinguish between them. Like chemisttree said, the boiling points are pretty far apart, so you just need a thermometer and a hot plate (and eyes of course) to get a general idea of which is which.

**gravenewworld** · Nov29-09, 10:59 PM

NMR all these other techniques are outdated. You don't even need to know anything about NMR, just take one and match it to a reference. NMR will tell you EXACTLY what you have.

**pzona** · Nov30-09, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by gravenewworld

NMR all these other techniques are outdated. You don't even need to know anything about NMR, just take one and match it to a reference. NMR will tell you EXACTLY what you have.

Very true, NMR is probably the best way to identify any organic compound. For the OP's purpose though, I think boiling point will suffice.

**Borek** · Nov30-09, 03:51 AM

Originally Posted by gravenewworld

NMR all these other techniques are outdated. You don't even need to know anything about NMR, just take one and match it to a reference. NMR will tell you EXACTLY what you have.

Overkill. NMR is expensive when compared with other techniques proposed and is not easily available in every place.

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**chemisttree** · Nov30-09, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Si14

I just wanted to know is there any "simple" way to distinguish Isopropanol from Acetone and Methane and Ethelin?
I used it for cleaning something.

Thanks again.

OH! In that case do the following:

1. Try to clean with your unknown.
2. Examine the result. If it cleans it, get on with your life.
3. If not clean, choose another solvent and GOTO 1....

**Si14** · Dec3-09, 07:04 PM

Good hints!
Thanks all.