2006-12-09 17:25:31 · 2 answers · asked by Sodapop K 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
-Why not test solution conductivity. Although alcohols are extremely weak acids (pKa ~16), they should show a slightly larger conductiviy in solution than alkynes (pka ~25)
-take the refractive index of each
-take the IR (alkyne should have a strong absorbance ~2200 wavenumbers, while an alcohol should have a broad absorbance ~3300 wavenumbers)
-exploit the differences in polarity. Try to precipitate a compound out using the above compounds as reagents.
Really, the list is endless and you could go into specific reactions. The problem with that is that is both time cosuming and costly. It's best to stick with the simple and obvious tools available.
2006-12-09 19:32:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess if you tried to hydrogenate it and you got butane, it was 1-butyne, but if nothing happens, it was butanol? Or you could try converting it to an ester, which only works on alcohols, so if that one works, it was butanol.
2006-12-09 17:28:40 · answer #2 · answered by Amy F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋