Purification of Organic Compounds &
Qualitative Analysis
Complete Notes for JEE Mains 2026
Part 1: Purification Techniques
1. Crystallization
Principle: Difference in solubility of the compound and impurities in a suitable
solvent.
Process:
Selection of Solvent: Compound should be sparingly soluble at room
temperature but highly soluble at solvent's boiling point
Preparation of Solution: Dissolve impure compound in minimum
amount of hot solvent
Filtration: Filter hot solution to remove insoluble impurities
Crystallization: Cool filtrate slowly to form pure crystals
Separation & Drying: Separate crystals by filtration and dry
NCERT Example: Purification of Phthalic acid from naphthalene impurities
using water.
2. Sublimation
Principle: Certain solids directly convert to vapour on heating without passing
through liquid phase.
NCERT Example: Separation of Camphor from common salt.
3. Distillation
Principle: Separate volatile liquids from non-volatile impurities or liquids with
significant boiling point difference (>25-30°C).
NCERT Example: Purification of aniline (B.P. 457 K) from nitrobenzene
(B.P. 484 K).
4. Fractional Distillation
Principle: Separate mixture of miscible liquids with close boiling points using
fractionating column.
NCERT Example: Separation of different fractions from crude petroleum.
5. Steam Distillation
Principle: For compounds that are steam volatile, immiscible with water, and
have high vapour pressure at 373 K.
NCERT Example: Isolation of aniline from reaction mixture.
6. Chromatography
Principle: Differential adsorption between stationary and mobile phases.
Rf Value: Rf = Distance travelled by substance / Distance travelled by solvent
front
Part 2: Qualitative Analysis of Organic Compounds
A. Detection of Elements (Lassaigne's Test)
Purpose: Convert covalent compounds to ionic form by fusion with sodium
metal.
Element Test Observation & Inference
Nitrogen SFE + Fresh FeSO₄ → Boil Prussian Blue precipitate
→ Cool + FeCl₃ + Acidify
Na + C + N → NaCN
Fe²⁺ + 6CN⁻ → [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻
4Fe³⁺ + 3[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ →
Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃ (Prussian
Blue)
Sulphur (i) SFE + Sodium (i) Violet colour
nitroprusside
Na₂S + [Fe(CN)₅NO]²⁻ →
(ii) SFE + Acetic acid +
[Fe(CN)₅NOS]⁴⁻ (Violet)
Lead acetate
(ii) Black precipitate
Na₂S + (CH₃COO)₂Pb → PbS↓
(Black) + 2CH₃COONa
Halogens SFE + dil. HNO₃ + AgNO₃ Precipitate:
• White (Cl): AgCl (soluble in
NH₄OH)
• Pale Yellow (Br): AgBr (partially
soluble)
• Yellow (I): AgI (insoluble)
B. Detection of Functional Groups
1. Alcohols (R-OH)
Ceric Ammonium Nitrate Test: (NH₄)₂[Ce(NO₃)₆] + R-OH →
Red/Brown colour
Victor Meyer's Test: 1° Alcohol → Red, 2° Alcohol → Blue, 3° Alcohol
→ No colour
Lucas Test: 3° Alcohol → Immediate turbidity, 2° Alcohol → 5-10 min
turbidity, 1° Alcohol → No turbidity
2. Phenols (Ar-OH)
Neutral FeCl₃ Test: Phenol + Neutral FeCl₃ → Violet/Blue/Green colour
Libermann's Test: Phenol + NaNO₂ + conc. H₂SO₄ → Deep Blue/Green
→ Red on dilution
Br₂ Water Test: Phenol + Bromine water → White precipitate of 2,4,6-
tribromophenol
3. Amines (R-NH₂)
Carbylamine Test (1° Amines): Amine + CHCl₃ + alc. KOH →
Offensive smell of Isocyanide
Azo Dye Test (Aromatic 1° Amines): Bright Orange/Red Azo dye
precipitate
Hinsberg's Test: Distinguishes 1°, 2°, 3° amines based on solubility
4. Carbohydrates
Molisch's Test (General): Violet ring at junction
Benedict's Test (Reducing Sugars): Red precipitate of Cu₂O
Tollen's Test (Aldoses): Silver mirror
Iodine Test (Starch): Deep Blue colour
5. Aldehydes and Ketones
2,4-DNP Test (General): Yellow/Orange/Red precipitate
Tollen's Test (Aldehydes only): Silver mirror
Fehling's Test (Aliphatic Aldehydes): Red precipitate of Cu₂O
Iodoform Test (CH₃CO- or CH₃CH(OH)-): Yellow precipitate of CHI₃
6. Proteins and Amino Acids
Biuret Test (Proteins): Violet/Purple colour (peptide bond)
Ninhydrin Test (α-Amino Acids): Blue/Purple colour (Proline gives
yellow)
Xanthoproteic Test (Aromatic Amino Acids): Yellow → Orange with
NH₄OH
Part 3: Systematic Salt Analysis (Inorganic Ions)
Step 1: Preliminary Tests
Physical Examination: Colour, smell
Dry Heating Test: Observe for sublimation, gas evolution, water
droplets
Step 2: Identification of Cation
Group Cations Reagent & Observation
Group NH₄⁺ NaOH + Heat → NH₃ gas (turns red litmus blue)
Zero
Group I Pb²⁺ Dil. HCl → White ppt. of PbCl₂ (soluble in hot
water)
Group II Cu²⁺, H₂S in acidic medium → Sulphide precipitates
Cd²⁺
Group III Al³⁺, Fe³⁺ NH₄Cl + NH₄OH → Gelatinous ppt. of hydroxides
Step 3: Identification of Anion
Anion Test Observation
Carbonate Dil. Acid CO₂ gas turns lime water milky
(CO₃²⁻)
Chloride (Cl⁻) AgNO₃ White ppt. (AgCl) soluble in NH₄OH
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) Brown Ring Brown ring at junction
Test
Sulphate (SO₄²⁻) BaCl₂ in dil. White ppt. of BaSO₄ (insoluble in
HCl acids)
JEE Mains 2026 - Key Focus Areas
High Priority:
Lassaigne's Test reactions and chemistry
Distinguishing tests between similar functional groups
Mechanism of important tests
NCERT examples and procedures
Systematic approach for salt analysis
Memory Tips:
Create flowcharts for salt analysis
Make tables for comparing tests
Practice writing chemical equations
Focus on distinguishing features
JEE Mains 2026 Chemistry Notes - Purification & Qualitative Analysis
Complete coverage of NCERT techniques and advanced concepts