liambob1

Hey guys, I decided to try and make Benedicts reagent for the lulz. My first step is obtaining Sodium Citrate but I have an issue I hope you can assist me with. I reacted citric acid and sodium bicarbonate to produce sodium citrate water and carbon dioxide. In a moment of stupidity I decided to add ethanol to the product to try and force the salt to precipitate rather than just evaporating off the water. I then attempted to evaporate off the water and ethanol and all was going well till about 80oC when this happened: My theory on this is it is a side reaction involving Fe contamination in the water. I tested the water I used and it was about .02 mg/L Do you think it was an iron side reaction or what else could have happened. The result is a black smelly liquid which I am having a hard time evaporating off because every time I do it erupts like this. Is there a way to rescue my salt? Cheers

Hi there , I'm Liam, a student of Pharmaceutical Healthcare in the Dublin institute of technology in Ireland. And I'm a science-aholic