Chemical test for Benzoin

Chemical test for Benzoin

Objective: 

To perform the chemical test for BENZOIN

Biological source:

It is a balsamic resin obtained from Styrax benzoin.

Fam- Styraceae 

Physical characteristics:

Appearance           - Crystalline

Colour                   - Greyish brown

Odour                    - Aromatic and characteristics, balsamic

Shape                    - Tear

Taste                      - sweet and slightly acrid

Sr. No.	Test	Observation	Inference
1.	Heat 0.5g of substance in dry test tube	Evolve white fumes which condense to form white crystalline sublimate in the upper part of tube.	Benzoin present
2.	Alcoholic solution + water	White milky solution formed	Benzoin present
3.	Alcoholic solution of litmus treat with litmus paper	Acidic to litmus paper.	Benzoin present
4.	Heat 0.5g with 10ml solution of potassium permangnate + 1 drop of conc. Sulphuric acid	Bitter almond smell of benzal- dehyde	Sumatra benzoin
5.	2.5 g drug + 10 ml ether shake and warm . pour 2 to 3ml of this extract in porcellin dish containing 2 to 3 drops conc. Sulphuric acid	Deep reddish brown colour produced in porcellin dish.	Sumatra Siam benzoin
6.	Truturate drug with alcohol, filter, filtrate+ferric chloride solution (alcoholic)	No bright green colour	Sumatra benzoin
7.	Heat small quantity of benzoin in test tube covering opening of test tube with glass slide cool the content and examine slide under microscope.	Crystals of cinnamic acid is observed	Benzoin conformed