Main Group Elements- Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid

Dehydration of Sugar by Sulfuric Acid

Description:  Concentrated sulfuric acid is added to sugar in a beaker and stirred. The mixture changes color from white crystalline solid to a black amorphous solid. The solid expands out of the beaker, accompanied by the evolution of heat, sulfur oxides, and the smell of burned sugar and sulfur dioxide.

Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry

Year: 1983  Vol: 1  Page: 77

Keywords: Sulfuric acid, Exothermic, Dehydration, Sugar

Rating:

Hazard: High

• Acute toxicity hazard
• Chemical burn hazard
• Skin corrosion hazard
• Inhalation hazard
• Thermal burn hazard
• Serious eye damage hazard

Effectiveness: Excellent

• Results are deeply engaging to audience
• Spectacular effects are seen by audience
• Superior reliability
• Clear contrast between behavior of systems
• Time to results is low
• Good connection from demo to course material

Difficulty: Medium

• Some intermediate steps to results
• Some timed manipulations
• Reactions in which toxic substances are produced
• Simple procedures

Safety Precautions:

• Eye protection required
• Chemical and thermal gloves required
• Downdraft hood or fume hood required
• Chemically resistant surface required
• Acid neutralization spill kit required
• Avoid exposure to evolved gases

Class: Organic Chemistry, Dehydration Reaction, Groups VIB and VIIB (16 and 17), Main Group Elements

Division: General, Organic Chemistry

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