Aim: To prepare and submit Hexamine from urea.
Requirements: Porcelain dish, formaldehyde, ammonium hydroxide solution, ethanol,
Theory: Hexamethylenetetramine or methanamine or urotropine is a heterocyclic organic compound with the formula (CH₂)6N4. This white crystalline compound is highly soluble in water and polar organic solvents.
Reaction involved:
Procedure:
- Add 7.0 g of 20% ammonium hydroxide solution to 4.73 g of 38% formaldehyde in a porcelain dish, until the solution is slightly alkaline. If necessary more ammonia being added.
- Allow the reaction mixture to stand for several hours.
- Filter the solution and then evaporate filtrate in vacuum to get a thick paste.
- Filter the hexamine crystals, wash with ethyl alcohol, and dry.
- Recrystallize the product from water or alcohol.
- Melting point of hexamine is 280°C.
Results: The yield of obtained product was found to be _ gm and percentage yield was % and melting point was found to be ℃.
Theoretical yield =
Practical yield =
Percentage of yield = (Practical yield / Theoretical yield) x 100
Uses: It is useful in the synthesis of other chemical compounds like plastics, pharmaceuticals, rubber additives.
Caution: Glass ware should be clean and dry before being used.