Experiment
Determination of Melting and Boiling Points
1
Objectives
1) To determine melting point and boiling point of unknown compounds.
2) To identify a solid unknown by measuring mixed melting points.
3) To properly use general apparatus in organic chemistry laboratory.
Introduction
The melting point of a compound is the temperature at which the solid phase is in
equilibrium with the liquid phase. A solid compound changes to a liquid when the molecules
acquire enough energy to overcome the forces holding them together in an orderly crystalline
lattice. For most organic compounds, these intermolecular forces are relatively weak.
The melting point range is defined as the span of temperature from the point at which the
crystals first begin to liquefy to the point at which the entire sample is liquid. Most pure organic
compounds melt over a narrow temperature range of 1‐2 °C.
The presence of a soluble impurity almost always causes a decrease in the melting point
expected for the pure compound and a broadening of the melting point range. In order to
understand the effects of impurities on melting point behavior, consider the melting point‐mass
percent composition diagram for two different fictitious organic compounds, X and Y, shown in
Figure 1. The vertical axis represents temperature and the horizontal axis represents varying mass
percent compositions of X and Y.
148
Figure 1. Melting point‐mass 142
percent composition diagram
‐ 1 ‐
Both compounds have sharp melting points. Compound X melts at 150 °C, as shown on the
left vertical axis, and Y melts at 148 °C, as shown on the right vertical axis. As compound X is
added to pure Y, the melting point of the mixture decreases along curve C‐B until a minimum
temperature of 130 °C is reached. Point B corresponds to 40 mass percent X and 60 mass percent
Y and is called the eutectic composition for compound X and Y. Here, both solid X and solid Y are
in equilibrium with the liquid. The eutectic temperature of 130 °C is the lowest possible melting
point for a mixture of X and Y. At temperatures below 130 °C, mixtures of X and Y exist together
only in solid form.
Consider a 100‐μg mixture composed of 20 μg of X and 80 μg of Y. In this mixture, X acts as
an impurity in Y. As the mixture is heated, the temperature rises to the eutectic temperature of
130 °C. At this temperature, X and Y begin to melt together at point B, the eutectic composition
of 40 mass percent X and 60 percent Y. The temperature remains constant at 130 °C until all 20
μg of X melts. At the eutectic temperature, X and Y will melt in the ratio of 40 parts X to 60 parts
Y. If 20 μg of X melts, then 30 μg of Y also melts (20 μg X x 60/40 ratio = 30 μg Y). At this point,
the remaining 50 μg of solid Y is in equilibrium with a molten mixture of the eutectic composition.
As more heat is applied to the mixture, the temperature begins to rise, and the remaining Y
begins to melt. Y continues to melt as the temperature increases, shown by curve B‐C.
Finally, at 142 °C, point C, where the liquid composition is 20 mass percent X and 80 mass
percent Y, all of Y is melted. At temperatures higher than 142 °C, liquid X and liquid Y exist
together with a composition at which the entire mixture liquefies is 142 °C, 6 degrees lower than
the melting point of pure Y. Also, the melting point range 130‐142 °C is quite broad.
If a mixture has exactly the eutectic composition of 40 mass percent X and 60 mass percent
Y, the mixture shows a sharp melting point at 130 °C. Observing this melting point could lead to
the false conclusion that the mixture is a pure compound. Addition of either pure X or pure Y to
the mixture causes an increase in the melting point, as indicated by curve B‐A or B‐C,
respectively. Observing this melting point increase indicates that the original sample is not pure.
Because the melting point of a compound is a physical constant, the melting point can be
helpful in determining the identity of an unknown compound. A good correlation between the
experimentally measured melting point of an unknown compound and the accepted melting
point of a known compound suggests that the compound may be the same. However, many
different compounds have the same melting point.
‐ 2 ‐
A mixed melting point can be useful in confirming the identity of an unknown compound. A
small portion of a known compound, whose melting point is known from the chemical literature,
is mixed with the unknown compound. If the melting point of the mixture is the same as that of
the known compound, then the known and the unknown compounds may be identical. A
decrease in the melting point of the mixture and a broadening of the melting point range
indicates that the compounds are likely to be different.
Melting points can also be used to assess compound purity. Generally, a melting point range
of 5 °C or more indicates that a compound is impure. Purification of the compound causes the
melting point range to narrow and the melting point to increase. Repeated purification may be
necessary before the melting point range narrows to 1‐2 °C and reaches its maximum value,
indicating that the compound is pure.
In practice, measuring the melting point of a crystalline compound involves several steps.
First, a finely powdered compound is packed into a melting point capillary tube to a depth of 1‐2
mm. Then the capillary tube containing the sample compound is inserted into the melting point
apparatus.
If the melting point of the compound is unknown, it is convenient to first measure the
approximate melting point of the compound, called the orientation melting point. The sample is
heated at a rate of 10‐15 °C per minute until it melts. Then the melting point apparatus is cooled
to approximately 15 °C below the orientation melting point. A new sample is heated, increasing
the temperature at a much slower rate of 1‐2 °C per minute, to accurately measure the melting
point. A slow heating rate is necessary because heating a sample too rapidly may cause the
thermometer reading to differ from the actual temperature of the heat source.
If the melting point of the sample is known, the sample can be quickly heated to within 10‐
15 °C of its melting point. Then the heating rate can be slowed to increase 1‐2 °C per minute until
the sample melts.
Errors in observed melting points often occur due to a poor heat transfer rate from the heat
source to the compound. One cause of poor heat transfer rate is the placement of too much
sample into the capillary tube. Finely ground particles of the compound are also necessary for
good heat transfer. If the particles are too coarse, they do not pack well, causing air pockets that
slow heat transfer.
Sometimes slight changes, such as shrinking and sagging, occur in the crystalline structure
of the sample before melting occur. Also, traces of solvent may be present due to insufficient
drying and may appear as droplets on the outside surface of the sample. This phenomenon is
‐ 3 ‐
called sweating and should not be mistaken for melting. The initial melting point temperature
always corresponds to the first appearance of liquid within the bulk of the sample itself.
Some compounds decompose at or near their melting points. This decomposition is usually
characterized by a darkening in the color of the compound as it melts. If the decomposition and
melting occur over a narrow temperature range of 1‐2 °C, the melting point is used for
identification and as an indication of sample purity. The melting point of such compound is listed
in the literature accompanied by d or decomp. If the sample melts over a large temperature
range with decomposition, the data cannot be used for identification purposes.
Some compounds pass directly from solid to vapor phase without going through the liquid
phase, a process called sublimation. When sublimation occurs, the sample at the bottom of the
capillary tube vaporizes and recrystallizes higher up in the capillary tube. A sealed capillary tube is
used to take the melting point of a compound that sublimes at or below its melting point. The
literature reports the melting point for these compounds accompanied by s, sub, or subl.
Boiling points are also useful physical properties for indicating the purity of an organic
compound. Boiling point is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals
atmospheric pressure or some other applied pressure. A boiling point is commonly measured
during a distillation, in which a liquid is heated to form vapor, and then the vapor is condensed
and collected in another container. The boiling temperature is measured as distillation vapor
covers the bulb of a thermometer suspended above the boiling liquid. Typically, the most
accurate boiling point measurement is the relatively constant temperature achieved during a
distillation.
Experimental Procedure
Part A Melting Point
1) Obtain a sample from your instructor. Record sample ID.
2) Put the sample into a capillary tube (about 1‐2 mm in height).
3) Measure the melting point using the apparatus as shown in Figure 2. Attach the capillary
tube to a thermometer with sewing thread. Place 25‐30 mL of paraffin oil or glycerol in a 50
mL beaker.
4) Turn on the hotplate and observe the melting point. Use a clean glass rod to stir the oil to
ensure a uniform heat distribution.
5) Record the melting point range (for example 70‐73°C)
‐ 4 ‐
Thermometer
Clamp
50 mL Beaker
Paraffin Oil Sewing thread
or glycerol Sample in
capillary tube
Hotplate
Figure 2. Apparatus set‐up for melting‐point determination
6) Based on the observed melting point, select 2 compounds in the table below that are most
likely to be your unknown.
Compound mp (°C)
Resorcinol 110‐112
Acetanilide 113‐116
Citric acid 153‐159
Salicylic acid 158‐161
Oxalic acid 99‐101
4‐tert‐Butyl phenol 96‐101
7) Verify the identity of your unknown by measuring the mixed melting point with each of the
selected known compounds. The mixture can be made by putting together an equal
quantity of the unknown and the known compounds on a watch glass. Use a spatula to
thoroughly blend the mixture. Record the melting point range and identify the unknown
compounds.
‐ 5 ‐
Part B Boiling Point
1) Obtain a liquid unknown from your instructor. Record the sample number.
2) Attach a clean and empty test tube to a thermometer with sewing thread. Put an empty
capillary tube in the test tube so that the open end of capillary is down. Set up the
apparatus as in Figure 3.
3) Ensure that the temperature of the paraffin oil is below 50 °C. Place 2‐3 mL of sample in the
test tube.
4) Turn on the hot plate and use a clean glass rod to stir the paraffin oil to ensure a uniform
heat distribution.
5) Record the temperature when rapid air bubbles come out from the capillary. At this stage,
the vapor pressure of the unknown inside the capillary is higher than the atmospheric
pressure.
Thermometer
Clamp
Test tube
Capillary
Close end 50 mL Beaker
Capillary tube
Capillary
tube Sewing thread
Paraffin Oil
Sample in
test tube
Capillary
Open end
Hotplate
Figure 3. Apparatus set‐up for boiling‐point determination
6) Turn off the hot plate and carefully insert a ceramic tile between the beaker and the
hotplate. Alternatively, you may replace the hot plate with the one that has not been used.
However, the thermometer bulb and the content in the test tube should be submerged in
the paraffin oil at all times.
7) As the temperature decreases, air bubbling will gradually slow down. Record the
temperature when you see the last bubble come out and some liquid goes into the capillary
‐ 6 ‐
tube. At this point, the vapor pressure of the compound inside the capillary is equal to the
atmospheric pressure.
8) Report the boiling point to your instructor. If a repetition is needed, allow the paraffin oil to
cool, and replace the capillary tube with a new one. Add more liquid sample if necessary.
Laboratory Safety Precaution
1) Wear safety goggles and lab coat at all times while working in the laboratory.
2) Many chemicals are potentially harmful. Prevent contact with your eyes, skin, and clothing.
Avoid ingesting any of the reagents.
3) Unknowns may be flammable, toxic, and irritating.
4) Capillary tubes are fragile and easily broken.
5) Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or detergent before leaving the laboratory.
6) Take care to avoid burning yourself when using paraffin oil, glycerol and electric hotplates.
‐ 7 ‐
