Orgo Lab - Cyclohexane and GC Experiment Discussion Draft Part 1

In this lab, the synthesis of cyclohexene was performed through the dehydration of cyclohexanol. This was done through distillation and several washes. IR, GC, and chemical tests were performed to reveal the presences of any functional groups and the number of components in the product. Distillation started at around 64 degrees Celsius. This was unexpected because cyclohexene boiling point is 83 degrees Celsius and cyclohexanol boiling point is 161.8 degrees Celsius. The lower boiling point present in the distillation of cyclohexanol may have been due to the weak hydrogen bonds in the alcohol functional group and water, or the weak alkene bonds. Cyclohexanol and cyclohexene have a 1:1 ratio. The initial amount of cyclohexanol used was 2.0 g and the finished amount of cyclohexene obtained was 0.43 g. This resulted in a percent yield of 21.4 %. This may have been due to loss of product during glassware transitions, potential evaporation, or not leaving enough solution in the flask during distillation.