In: Chemistry
When using limonene extracted form orange peels, what should the chemical observation be when 3-4 drops of limonene is added to KMnO4? What does it mean to test for unsaturation through this method?
KMnO4 reacts with carbon-carbon double bonds (C=C double bonds). Limonene has formal, complete C=C double bonds. Limonene will react with KMnO4. They react by "adding across the double bond", and forming multiple C-O bonds on either end. The final result is to cleave the molecule across the C=C double bond. Usually, the products of that reaction are termed "carboxylic acids".
Here KMNO4 is reduced to MnO42- which is dark green in
color.
So, physical observation will be appearance of dark green
color.
It means that Limonene is unsaturated compound