12.26. Explain the reason for the fusion of an organic compound with metallic sodium for testing nitrogen, sulphur and halogens.
In Organic compounds, nitrogen, sulphur and halogens are covalently bonded. To detect them, they have to convert into ionic form. This is done by the fusing of an organic compound by the sodium metal. This is known as Lassaigne's test.
The following chemical reactions are-
Here X = halogen atoms