In order to detect elements such as nitrogen, sulphur, and halogens in an organic compound, their covalent bonds must be broken to convert them into water-soluble ionic species. Which of the following laboratory processes is specifically used to achieve this conversion for qualitative analysis?

Step-by-step solution

In qualitative analysis of organic compounds, elements like nitrogen, sulphur, and halogens are covalently bonded. To detect them, they must be converted into their ionic forms. This is achieved by fusing the organic compound with sodium metal, a process known as sodium fusion or Lassaigne's test. The covalent compounds are converted into water-soluble ionic sodium salts (such as NaCN , Na ₂ S , and NaX ). Kjeldahl's and Dumas methods are used for the quantitative estimation of nitrogen, while the Carius method is