You are given two bottles, each containing a colorless liquid. You are told that one liquid is cyclohexane and the other is benzene. Suggest one chemical test that would allow you to distinguish between these two liquids.

Short Answer

Expert verified
To differentiate between cyclohexane and benzene, a viable chemical test involves adding potassium permanganate to each liquid. The liquid that turns purple upon addition of KMnO4 is cyclohexane, while the liquid that remains unchanged is benzene.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Chemical Characteristics of Cyclohexane and Benzene

Recognize that cyclohexane, classified as an alkane, consists of single carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds. Benzene, however, is an aromatic hydrocarbon with a ring of six carbon atoms, each bound to a hydrogen atom, and alternating double bonds. Despite these structural similarities, they react differently to various chemical tests.
02

Identifying a Suitable Chemical Test

Identify a chemical reagent that reacts differently with cyclohexane and benzene. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) fulfills this requirement as it reacts with cyclohexane to produce a purple solution while leaving benzene unaffected.
03

Conducting the Experiment

Add a small amount of potassium permanganate solution to each liquid separately. The liquid that produces a purple color upon addition of potassium permanganate is cyclohexane. Conversely, the liquid that remains unchanged is benzene.

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