Description of experiment
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Needed compounds:
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nitric acid : HNO3
thymol : C6H3 OH CH3 CH3CHCH3
Class:
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elem=C
redox
Summary:
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Thymol is oxidized by concentrated nitric acid, resulting in the formation
of a dark green compound, which however by further oxidation is destroyed
again and a water-soluble compound remains.
Description:
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Add some thymol to concentrated nitric acid (appr. 60% by weight): The crystals
liquify and float as a dark green oil on the surface of the acid. The liquid
itself becomes yellow and clear. The gas-mixture above the liquid becomes pale
brown, hence some NO or NO2 is formed in this reaction.
Heat the liquid: The dark green oil disappears. Formation of much more NO2,
the liquid starts bubbling fairly vigorously and thick brown vapors are formed.
The liquid becomes orange/brown. At a certain moment, the bubbling quickly
ceases and the liquid becomes yellow and clear.