How is solvent extraction by ether used to separate organic entities from mixture of salt,phenol & phenylamine?
Thanks!
Solvent extraction by ether is a common method used to separate organic entities from a mixture containing salts, phenol, and phenylamine. Here's how it works:
1. First, prepare the mixture by dissolving the salts, phenol, and phenylamine in a suitable solvent, such as water.
2. Add an organic solvent, like diethyl ether, to the mixture. Ether is commonly used because it has a low boiling point and can dissolve many organic compounds.
3. Shake or stir the mixture vigorously to ensure the distribution of the organic solvent within the mixture. This allows for the selective extraction of the organic entities.
4. The organic compounds, such as phenol and phenylamine, will dissolve in the ether due to their affinity for the organic solvent. The salts, being ionic in nature, will remain dissolved in the aqueous phase.
5. Allow the mixture to settle. The ether layer will separate from the aqueous layer due to their immiscibility.
6. Carefully separate the two layers using a separating funnel. The organic solvent (ether) will form the upper layer, while the aqueous layer (containing salts) will be at the bottom.
7. Collect the upper ether layer, which now contains the extracted organic entities, into a separate container. This separation process is called "extraction."
8. To recover the organic compounds from the ether, you can evaporate the ether using gentle heating. The organic entities will be left behind for further use.
By using solvent extraction with ether, the organic compounds (phenol and phenylamine) are selectively separated from the mixture, leaving behind the salts. This technique takes advantage of the difference in solubility and affinity of the compounds for different solvents.