Reaction of an aromatic arene test

[penguinraider]

Homework Statement

Hey, so I've done a basic test for an amine, which involves mixing HCl and aniline and cooling it, cooling a solution of sodium nitrite in a second test tube, and mixing the two when sufficiently cold. When both soutions reached zero celsius, they were mixed, and a solution if beta-naphthol in NaOH was added. Could anyone tell me how everything's reacted?

Homework Equations

Been given nothing... after all, that's what I'm supposed to find out

The Attempt at a Solution

A red precipitate was formed, which at a wild and irrational guess could be based from the beta-naphthol, but I honestly have no idea where to start with this one. I haven't been able to find out what it could be anywhere...

Any help whatsoever would be greatly appreciated :)

EDIT: And why would the solutions need to be so cold? It's kinda counter-intuitive by my thinking... not a homework question, this.

 

[chemisttree]

The reaction you are asking about is a diazotization reaction. The initially formed diazonium salt of aniline is reacted with an aromatic alcohol to produce a diazo compound. Aromatic diazonium salts that react with phenols generally produce highly colored compounds (azo dyes).

It's goooood chemistry!

 

[penguinraider]

Thank you very much! :)