- Sodium fusion test
The sodium fusion test is used in
elemental analysis for the qualitative determination of elementalhalogen s,nitrogen andsulfur in a sample. It was developed by J. L. Lassaigne.The test involves heating the sample strongly with clean
sodium metal, "fusing" it with the sample. The "fused" sample is plunged into water, and the usual qualitative tests are performed on the resultant solution for the respective possible constituents.Theory
When an organic compound is heated strongly with sodium, any halogens, nitrogen, and sulfur will be converted into inorganic sodium salts such as sodium halide (for halides),
sodium cyanide (for nitrogen),sodium sulfide (for sulfur), andsodium thiocyanate (for sulfur and nitrogen).External links
* [http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm:1104/lab_manuals/c10o8.html Lab Manual from the University of West Indies, Mona]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.