Could you use acetone as a solvent to recrystallize acetanilide? Justify

Why not try it and see. I've not done it but I think the it may be too soluble in acetone.

Yes, acetone can be used as a solvent to recrystallize acetanilide. Acetone is a common organic solvent that is frequently used for recrystallization purposes due to its low boiling point, moderate polarity, and ability to dissolve a wide range of organic compounds.

Here's how you can justify the use of acetone for recrystallizing acetanilide:

1. Solubility: Acetanilide is sparingly soluble in cold water and highly soluble in hot water. However, it is highly soluble in acetone regardless of temperature. When recrystallizing a compound, it is essential to choose a solvent in which the compound is soluble at high temperatures but sparsely soluble at lower temperatures. Acetone satisfies this criterion for acetanilide as it can fully dissolve the compound at elevated temperatures, allowing impurities to remain in solution.

2. Purity: Acetone is known for its high volatility. After the hot solution of acetanilide in acetone is cooled, the solvent rapidly evaporates, forming pure crystals of acetanilide. This aids in the removal of impurities that may have been present in the original sample.

3. Compatibility: Acetone is relatively non-reactive, which makes it compatible with most organic compounds. It does not react with acetanilide, ensuring that the recrystallization process does not introduce unwanted impurities or chemical changes to the compound.

It is worth noting that the choice of a solvent for recrystallization depends on various factors such as solubility, selectivity, boiling point, and other specific criteria. Proper justification for the choice of solvent is crucial to achieve successful recrystallization.