Aniline is also known as aminobenzene or phenylamine.
Aniline is prepared in laboratory by reducing nitrobenzene with tin (Sn) and conc. HCl.
10 ml nitrobenzene and 20 gm of granulated tin are placed in the 250 ml round bottom flask fitted with a reflux condenser. 50 ml of conc. HCl is added gradually with constant shaking. After each addition, the round bottom flask is cooled so that temperature may not go above 900C. Then the reaction mixture is heated on a boiling water bath for about one hour until the reaction is completed which is indicated by the smell of nitrobenzene, the disappearance of smell indicates the completion of the reaction. The flask is then cooled and a crystalline solid mass of double salt is separated out.
The crystalline solid mass is then treated with conc. NaOH until the solution is cleared and becomes strongly alkaline. Aniline is separated out and is floated on the surface as dark brown oil.
The mixture obtained is then subjected to the process of steam distillation until clear distillate is obtained.
Purification : Aniline is extracted by shaking the distillate several times with ether. The ethereal layer is separated each time with the help of separating funnel. Now, the ethereal aniline is placed for the evaporation where ether evaporates out. Aniline thus obtained is finally purified by redistillation at 182-1840C.