Sodium fusion test
Encyclopedia
The sodium fusion test is used in elemental analysis
for the qualitative determination of elemental halogen
s, nitrogen
and sulfur
in a sample. It was developed by J. L. Lassaigne
.
The test involves heating the sample strongly with clean sodium
metal, "fusing" it with the sample. A variety of techniques has been described. The "fused" sample is plunged into water, and the usual qualitative tests are performed on the resultant solution for the respective possible constituents.
(for nitrogen), sodium sulfide
(for sulfur), and sodium thiocyanate
(for sulfur and nitrogen).The nitrogen is confirm with ferrous sulfate i.e iron sulphate.
Elemental analysis
Percent Composition is a process where a sample of some material is analyzed for its elemental and sometimes isotopic composition. Elemental analysis can be qualitative , and it can be quantitative...
for the qualitative determination of elemental halogen
Halogen
The halogens or halogen elements are a series of nonmetal elements from Group 17 IUPAC Style of the periodic table, comprising fluorine , chlorine , bromine , iodine , and astatine...
s, nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
and sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
in a sample. It was developed by J. L. Lassaigne
Jean Louis Lassaigne
Jean Louis Lassaigne was a French chemist. He is best known for the sodium fusion test named after him.-Early life:...
.
The test involves heating the sample strongly with clean sodium
Sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride...
metal, "fusing" it with the sample. A variety of techniques has been described. The "fused" sample is plunged into water, and the usual qualitative tests are performed on the resultant solution for the respective possible constituents.
Theory
When an organic compound is heated strongly with sodium, any halogens, nitrogen, and sulfur will be converted into inorganic sodium salts such as sodium halide (for halides), sodium cyanideSodium cyanide
Sodium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula NaCN. This highly toxic colorless salt is used mainly in gold mining but has other niche applications...
(for nitrogen), sodium sulfide
Sodium sulfide
Sodium sulfide is the name used to refer to the chemical compound Na2S, but more commonly it refers to the hydrate Na2S·9H2O. Both are colorless water-soluble salts that give strongly alkaline solutions...
(for sulfur), and sodium thiocyanate
Sodium thiocyanate
Sodium thiocyanate is the chemical compound with the formula NaSCN. This colorless deliquescent salt is one of the main sources of the thiocyanate anion. As such, it is used as a precursor for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other specialty chemicals...
(for sulfur and nitrogen).The nitrogen is confirm with ferrous sulfate i.e iron sulphate.