This document outlines an experiment to purify brown sugar using heat and activated carbon. Students will create a brown sugar solution, then test the solution in three test tubes: one with no treatment, one heated, and one filtered after adding activated carbon. Activated carbon is effective at decolorizing the solution because its high surface area and non-polar nature allow it to absorb non-polar impurities like those found in brown sugar. Key factors that affect the process include contact time between the solution and activated carbon, temperature, and the amount of activated carbon used.

1. Experiment #5
CHEM 3
(Organic Chemistry) Group 6:

2. At the end of this experiment, the student
shall have:
 Purified an organic compound
 Compared the effectiveness of heating
and the addition of color–absorbing
reagents to purify the compound

3.  Bunsen burner

4.  Tripod

5.  Wire gauze

6.  Test tube rack & 3 test tubes

7.  Spatula

8.  Test tube brush

9.  2 250ml beaker

10.  Filter paper

11.  Graduated
cylinder

12.  clay triangle

13.  iron stand

14.  glass funnel

15.  pipette

16.  aspirator

17.  stirring rod

18.  platform balance

19.  watch glass

20.  brown sugar

21.  activated carbon

22.  distilled water

23. 50mlH2O
5g brownsugar

24. brownsugarsolution

26. 2ml brownsugarsol’n
testtube1

27. 2ml brownsugarsol’n
(forcontrol)
testtube1

28. 2ml brownsugarsol’n
(forcontrol)
notethecolorof
thesolution.
testtube1

29. brownsugarsol’n
+
heat

31. brownsugarsol’n
+
heat
0.1g activated
carbon

32. brownsugarsol’n
+
heat

33. testtube2

34. 2ml brownsugarsol’n
withactivatedcarbon
testtube2

35. 2ml brownsugarsol’n
withactivatedcarbon
testtube2

36. 2ml brownsugarsol’nwithactivatedcarbon
testtube2
notethecolorof
thesolution.

37. Coolthesolutionforfewminutesandfilterit
usingfilterpaper.

39. 2mlfiltrate
testtube3

40. 2mlfiltrate
testtube3

41. 2mlfiltrate
testtube2
notethecolorof
thesolution.

42. 1st test tube: (BEFORE HEATING) ___________________________
2nd test tube: (AFTER HEATING) _____________________
3rd test tube: (AFTER FILTRATION) ____________________
Brown solution
black solution
Dark brown solution
After it undergone the process of filtration, it
hasn’t been purified since the desired result is not
achieved.

43. HEATING FILTRATION

44. COLOR
test tube 1 light brown
test tube 2 black
test tube 3 colorless

45. Through the process called decolorization, we
aim to purify the brown sugar through the use of
carbon.
In order to do so, activated charcoal was added to
the solution to remove the impurities.
The activated carbon absorbed the impurities
from the brown sugar and when it was filtered, the
brown sugar solution became clear like water.

46.  Contact time
 Temperature
 Amount of activated carbon

47.  Sufficient contact time is required to
reach adsorption equilibrium.
 To prevent darkening of the sugar, it is
recommended that low temperature should be
maintained during the initial heating process of
the brown sugar.
 Amount of activated charcoal should be 2.3% of
the weight of the sample.

48.  Decolorize your solution by adding a small
amount of activated carbon to the warm
(NOT BOILING) sample solution.

49. Decolorization process is the process of removing
colored impurities in the sol’n.
Activated carbon also called activated charcoal is a
form of carbon processed to have a small, low-
volume pores that increase the surface area available
for absorption.
Temperature: Lower temperatures increase
adsorption capacity.
Activated Carbon is non-polar which results in an
affinity for non-polar compounds such as organics
(eg. Brown sugar).

50.  When making chemical solutions, always use the
appropriate safety equipment.
 Always follow the appropriate procedures when
doing the experiment
 For a typical experiment, you should plan to
repeat it to obtain the desired result.
 Always consult the instructor for concerns.

51.  http://www.mctcteach.org/chemistry/C2224
/labman/rc/decolor.htm
 http://www.ids-
environment.com/environment/us/carboche
m/activated_carbon/19_0/s_supplier.html