Familiarity with the solubility and melting points of some common organic solids is one of the basic aspect of practical organic chemistry classes at high school as well as undergraduate level.

1. 1
B.Sc 1st
Yr (Hons) Practical Guide---Organic Chemistry by Dr. Atanu Mitra
Solubility of some common organic compounds (Solid at room temperature) and their
melting points.
The low molecular weight aliphatic fatty acids (Oxalic, succinic, tartaric acids), polyphenolic compounds
(Resorcinol) and salt like aniline hydrochloride are soluble in water at room. The solubility of the compound in
water decreases with the increase of the hydrophobic part of the molecule. Relatively high molecular weight acidic
compounds such as long chain aliphatic acids (stearic acid, palmitic acid, adipic acid, etc), aromatic acids (benzoic
acid, phthalic acid, etc.) and phenolic compounds (β-napthol) are soluble in dil NaOH. Basic compounds such as p-
toluidine are soluble in dil HCl. Relatively strong acids (the compounds which contains –COOH group) are also
soluble in saturated solution of NaHCO3, whereas compounds having phenolic OH group do not soluble in NaHCO3
solution.
Sl. No.
Sample name solubility Melting point
(0
C)
A
1 Acetanilide Almost insoluble 112-116
2 Adipic Acid Soluble in dil NaOH and dil NaHCO
saturate solution of NaHCO3
151-155
3 p-Anisidine Moderately Soluble in water and highly
soluble in dil HCl
56-60
4 4-Amino benzoic acid Low solubility in water. Highly soluble in
dil HCl, dil NaOH, saturate solution of
NaHCO3
187-189
B
5 Benzanilide Insoluble 161-166
6 Benzoic acid Soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of
NaHCO3
121-125
7 Benzamide Slightly soluble in dil HCl 125-130
8 Benzoin Soluble in NaOH 132-137
9 Benzophenone Insoluble 46-50
10 4-Bromoacetanilide insoluble 165-169
C
11 2-Chlorobenzoic acid Soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of
NaHCO3
138-142
12 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde Insoluble 46
13 4-chlorobenzoic acid Soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of 237-241

2. 2
NaHCO3
14 4-Chloroaniline Soluble in dil HCl 67-72
15 Cinnamic acid Soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of
NaHCO3
132-135
N
16 2-Napthol(-napthol) Soluble in dil NaOH 121-123
17 4-Nitrophenol Soluble in water (due to presence of polar
group and also intermolecular hydrogen
bonding is possible).
111-116
18 3-Nitro benzoic acid Soluble in water, but solubility is low. Highly
soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of
NaHCO3
139-142
19 4-Nitro benzoic acid Soluble in water, but solubility is low. Highly
soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of
NaHCO3
237-242
20 4-Nitroaniline Low solubility in water. Soluble in dil HCl 146-150
21 3-Nitro aniline Soluble in dil HCl 109-114
22 2-Nitro aniline Soluble in dil HCl 70-74
23 4-Nitroacetanilide Insoluble 213-216
O
24 Oxallic acid Soluble in water 186-191
P
25 Phthalic acid soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of
NaHCO3
205-210 (it
decomposes)
26 Phenylacetic acid soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of
NaHCO3
76-79
R
27 Resorcinol Soluble in water 110-113
S
28 Succinic acid Soluble in water 184-189
29 Salicylic acid Soluble in dil NaOH and saturate solution of 159

3. 3
NaHCO3
30 Salicylamide Soluble in dil HCl and dil NaOH 139-144
T
31 p-Toluidine Soluble in dil HCl 42-46 (low
melting,
careful)