Page 206 - ICSE Chemistry 8

Sugar Charcoal

Sugar charcoal is the purest available amorphous form of carbon. It is prepared by destruc ve dis lla on
of cane sugar or glucose.
Heat
C H O 11 12C + 11H O
2
12 22
Cane sugar Sugar charcoal Water
It can also be prepared by dehydra ng cane sugar or glucose with concentrated sulphuric acid. In this
process, a residual black mass is obtained that is washed and dried.
Conc. H SO
C H O 11 2 4 12C + 11H O
12 22
2
Cane sugar Sugar charcoal Water
Uses of Sugar Charcoal

• It is used as a reducing agent to extract metals from their oxides.
• It is used as a decolourising agent.

• It is used to prepare ar fi cial diamonds by subjec ng it to heat at 3000°C–3500°C.
3000°C–3500°C
Sugar charcoal Ar fi cial diamond

Activity 9.5

Aim: To observe that charcoal is a decoloursing agent, i.e., it absorbs colouring ma er

Materials required: A beaker, some water, blue ink, some powdered charcoal
Procedure
• Take some water in a beaker and add a few drops of blue ink to it.

• Now add some powdered charcoal to the beaker and s r well for some me.
Observa on: You will observe that the blue colour of the solu on fades away.
Conclusion: This shows that charcoal is a decolourising agent.

Activity 9.6

Aim: To show the forma on of sugar charcoal

Materials required: A watch glass, some glucose, some
concentrated sulphuric acid
Procedure glucose sugar charcoal
• Take some glucose in a watch glass.

• Add a few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid to it.
Observa on: The white substance has turned into a black spongy mass of carbon.
Conclusion: This black mass obtained is sugar charcoal.

192