The carbon and hydrogen present in the organic compound is detected by heating the compound with copper (II) oxide in a hard glass tube when carbon present in the compound is oxidized to CO2 which can be tested with lime water and hydrogen is converted to water which can be tested with anhydrous copper sulphate which turns blue.
2C + 2CuO → 2Cu +CO2
2H+CuO → Cu + H2O
CO2 +Ca (OH)2 → CaCO3 + H2O
5H2O + CuSO4 → CuSO4.5H2O
