Isopropylbenzene Lab Report

For the next two weeks, the objective of this lab is to explore EAS reactions. These reactions are possible spots on a benzene ring for substituting electrophiles due to compounds that are already on the ring. There are three types of directing substituents. The first one is a para-director which guides the second substituent on the opposite side of the benzene ring. The second director, which corresponds with para-directors, is the ortho-director. These directors place the group of atoms on the carbons next to the carbon on the ring connect to the guiding substituent. Finally, there is a meta-director, which places atoms on carbons located between where ortho and para place their substituents on the benzene ring. With these concepts, the goal is for one person to observe how toluene and acetophenone react with nitric acid within the same mixture. Another person will explore how isopropylbenzene and acetophenone will also react with nitric acid within the same mixture. The toluene, isopropylbenzene …show more content…
This indicates that chemicals with higher boiling points will have longer retention times than chemicals with low boiling points. With that thought in mind and based on the data, it is clear to say that the major products that were produced with toluene, acetophenone, and nitric acid were indicated by peaks 4 and 5 on the toluene GC spectrum. These chemicals were o-nitrotoluene and p-nitrotoluene. This was determined by first finding the literature values of all the reactants’ and products’ boiling points. Each peak was then assigned a chemical on the GC spectrum based off the retention time and boiling points. The peaks with lower retention times had chemicals with low boiling points, such as the starting material like toluene and acetophenone. As the retention time continued to increase, chemicals were assigned by ascending order of their boiling