Briefly explain separation funnel
A separation funnel, also known as a separatory funnel, is a laboratory glassware used to separate immiscible liquids—liquids that do not mix to form a homogeneous solution. The classic shape is a conical flask with a stopcock at the bottom and a stopper at the top.
When a mixture of two immiscible liquids is placed in a separation funnel, they naturally separate into layers due to differences in density. The denser liquid (typically the aqueous phase) forms the lower layer, while the less dense liquid (typically the organic phase) forms the upper layer. By carefully opening the stopcock, the denser liquid can be drained off from the bottom until only the interface between the two liquids is at the exit point. The stopcock is then closed to retain the upper layer.
Separation funnels are commonly used in extractions, where one component of a mixture is more soluble in one liquid than the other, allowing selective partitioning of compounds between the phases. They can also be used to remove particulate impurities from a liquid by drawing off the lower layer that contains the settled impurities.