ATTN: answers to the below questions are due at the start of your second meeting; these answers should be part of your pre-lab write-up. There will be a quiz in lecture on Tuesday 4/12/2004. Please make sure that you arrive on time since the quiz will be administered in the beginning of the lecture.

1. Referring to step 2, answer the following questions:

a. What is the function of the sodium hydroxide in this step? Show pertinent equations.

b. What is the ratio of phenol to formaldehyde used in this reaction (Hint: What is the concentration of formaldehyde in terms of wt% and mol/L?)

c. How much solvent would be appropriate to use for the extraction part of the procedure? Rationalize your choice.

d. How can you speed up the removal of the solvent and avoid overheating the product?

e. Why is hexane used for the recrystallization?

2. Referring to step 3a, answer the following questions:

a. CeCl₃*7H₂O is (pale) yellow while the product is orange-brown in color. Explain briefly.

b. Provide a balanced equation of the reaction of CeCl₃ with ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.

c. Why is it important to add the 30% hydrogen peroxide solution slowly?

d. How many grams of the product do you expect for this reaction assuming you would obtain the yield given in the literature using the quantities given in the reader? Show calculations.

e. A student obtained significantly more than calculated in part d. Can he continue with step 3b?

3. Suggest two methods to introduce chirality into a pro-chiral molecule e.g. ketone.