Greening Qualitative Organic Analysis: Spot Test to Detect Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Aryl Halides

Chemistry students in their college laboratory routinely employ qualitative reactivity patterns to identify functional groups of unknown organic compounds. Qualitative organic analysis is therefore very useful for determining the overall structure. Most of the common functional groups can be easily detected by simple color tests that are rapid, simple and routinely performed by the students. However, the detection of aromatic hydrocarbons and aryl halides is still a challenge as there are not many color tests available. The present work highlights the detection of aromatic hydrocarbons and aryl halides by simple modification of their reaction with chloroform. The method is simple, using chemicals that are easily available in the undergraduate laboratory and follows the principles of green chemistry.