Hello! I was looking for some advice on my organic chemistry lab. We were supposed to separate and identify a solid mixed into a liquid. I found and have confirmed my liquid is acetone by distilling it out of the solid. The solid then turned into a whitish powder while in the round bottom flask.

The part that worries me is that I couldn t get the powder out easily, so I am worried it is impure. Is the distillation enough to get all the liquid out, or should I perform some other purification method or even redo the distillation? Thanks!

You might think so since acetone has such as low boiling point; however, I might be worried more that the flask was heated too much in trying to get all of the solvent out. You might try dissolving the solid again in a minimum of solvent, pouring the mixture into a beaker, then air dry or dry in an oven (low temperature) and that will allow you to get to the solid more easily.

Hello! It's great that you were able to identify your liquid as acetone through distillation. Distillation is indeed a commonly used method for separating liquids from solids. In the process, the liquid evaporates, leaving behind the solid. However, it's important to note that distillation alone may not always guarantee complete removal of the liquid, especially if there are impurities present.

Based on your description, it seems that you ended up with a whitish powder, which could indicate that some undissolved solid remains. To ensure the purity of your solid, you should consider additional purification methods.

Here are a few options you can consider:

1. Filtration: If the solid is insoluble or partially soluble in the liquid, you can try filtering it. This involves passing the mixture through a filter paper or a porous material to separate the solid from the liquid. The liquid will pass through the filter while the solid will be retained. This can help remove any remaining liquid and impurities.

2. Recrystallization: Recrystallization is a common purification method for solids. It involves dissolving the solid in a suitable solvent at an elevated temperature and then allowing the solution to cool slowly. As it cools, the solid will start to crystallize out while impurities remain in solution. The resulting crystals can then be filtered or collected by other means, such as decantation.

3. Redistillation: If you suspect that the acetone is still present in your solid, you can consider redoing the distillation. Redistillation involves heating the solid and collecting the condensate to separate it from any remaining impurities. This method can be particularly effective if the boiling points of the solid and the liquid differ significantly.

Ultimately, the choice of purification method will depend on the nature of your solid and the impurities present. It's always a good idea to consult your lab instructor or refer to your lab manual for specific guidance on the appropriate technique to employ.

I hope this explanation helps you in the purification of your solid! Let me know if you have any further questions.