Ethanol → Sodium Behenate

Participants

Reaction Steps

8.5 g. of behenic acid were dissolved in 150 ml. of ethanol at 60° C. with stirring, and a solution of 1 g. of sodium hydroxide in 100 ml. of water was dropwise added at 60° C. with stirring to form sodium behenate. 200 ml. of hot water of about 70° C. were then added and sodium behenate was completely dissolved at about 70° C. with continuation of stirring. Subsequently, an about 1/100 N aqueous nitric acid solution containing an equimolar amount, to that of the charged behenic acid, of silver nitrate was dropwise added at 70° C. with stirring. The dissolved sodium behenate was converted to insoluble silver behenate. The obtained silver behenate was recovered by filtration and repeatedly washed with hot water of about 80° C. and hot ethanol of about 70° C., followed by drying.

Provenance & Evidence