TEST for nitrogen experiment help??

Question

*Organic compounds containing nitrogen evolve ammonia gas upo heating with soda lime.

Mix in a mortar and pestle about 1/4 tablespoon of urea with about 1/2 tablespoon of soda lime. Pour the mixture into a dry test tube and heat gently.

A. Observe and describe the odor of the gas evolved.____________________________

B. Hold a piece of red and blue litmus paper at the mouth of the test tube. Give your observations.____________

C. What gas turned the litmus paper blue?

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Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The gas evolved would be ammonia. Ammonia is a weak base.

A. Ammonia is a foul-smelling gas. It stinks. (haha)

B. The red litmus paper turns blue. No change happens to the blue litmus paper. (This is because bases turn red litmus paper to blue and acids turn blue litmus to red. Since ammonia is a base, then it turns red litmus to blue.)

C. Ammonia gas turns the red litmus paper to blue.