How can you test for the presence of citral?

  • Thread starter Thread starter chiefy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Test
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for testing the presence of citral, exploring both sophisticated scientific techniques and simpler laboratory methods. Participants consider various approaches to identify citral in different contexts, including both practical and theoretical perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about methods suitable for a basic science laboratory versus those used in professional scientific settings.
  • Another participant mentions advanced techniques such as NMR-spectroscopy, gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography for analyzing citral.
  • A different participant suggests testing the boiling point as a simpler method for identifying citral.
  • There is a distinction made between testing for the presence of citral versus confirming the identity of a pure substance, with emphasis on physical and chemical characteristics.
  • One participant notes that citral has a characteristic smell, referencing its presence in lemongrass, while cautioning against using olfactory methods for identification.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the complexity of methods for testing citral, with some advocating for advanced techniques and others preferring simpler approaches. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best method for identifying citral.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of consensus on the most appropriate testing method and the potential need for specific equipment or safety considerations when handling chemicals.

chiefy
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
How can you test for the presence of citral?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
anything? somebody has to know something?
 
Are you looking for something that you could do yourself in say a basic science laboratory, or are you looking for current methods that are applied by scientists in the field?
I have found some papers on metabolism and disposition of citral in rats (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...d&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=1981530&query_hl=1") and they use techniques like NMR-spectroscopy, gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, and high performance liquid chromatography. These are all basically fancy ways of separating related compounds from one another and determining how much of each compound you have. If you can't get these references and/or want help with understanding these techniques, let us know.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I was looking for something a little less sophisticated. How could you identify citral? My guess is test its boiling point?
 
OK, testing for the "presence" of something can be quite different from testing whether a pure substance "is" something. So maybe you have a scenario like this. You have several vials of unknown substances and you want to know which one is citral. You're right in thinking about physical/chemical characteristics. Perhaps freezing/boiling point determination would be sufficient to differentiate the unkowns. As an aside, I'm pretty sure citral has a rather characteristic smell, it can be found in lemongrass, but I'm sure you were taught not to go around inhaling chemicals as a safe means of identifying them, so stick with the other tests.
 

Similar threads

Biology Why do fatty acids burn in the presence of carbon?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Biology Ames Test: Understanding Mutations and Lethality
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Chemistry Libermann's Nitroso test (of Amines)
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Chemistry Tollens' test on Alpha hydroxy ketones
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Magnesium Carbonates Reaction Under Various Test?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Penning ion source test
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Testing for the type of alcohol
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Testing My Superconductor
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
Decay pressure testing
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Which one is correct about hypothesis testing?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K