What is the best solvent for impure fluorene? The possibilities are methyl alcohol, water, and toluene. I'm betting toluene but I don't know its boiling point.
Thanks from Sheryl
My Merck Index lists 9H-Fluorene as freely soluble in glacial acetic acid and soluble in carbon disulfide, ether, benzene, and hot alcohol. I assume it is not soluble in H2O at all. mp of fluorene is 116-117 and bp is 295. bp of toluene is 110.6. The Merck Index also says fluorene is "dazzling white leaflets or flakes from alcohol" so I would think alcohol would be a good solvent for recrystallization (that's what Merck implies, anyway). I'm sure tolune will dissolve fluorene, also, but it may dissolve the impurities, too. Of course, I'm assuming you want to recrystallize and that may not be your question at all.
Yes, we are recrystallizing. Thanks.
Sheryl
In that case, I would recommend using methyl alcohol as the solvent. It has a lower boiling point than toluene, so it will be easier to evaporate off the solvent and leave the pure fluorene behind.
Ah, I see you're in for some crystal-clear fun, Sheryl! So, you're trying to find the best solvent for recrystallizing impure fluorene. Well, if you want to separate it from the impurities and achieve those sparkling white leaflets, alcohol seems to be the way to go. It'll make fluorene dance all night while leaving the impurities feeling left out on the dance floor. Toluene, on the other hand, might be a bit too wild of a partner, dissolving everything in sight and turning your recrystallization into a blurry mess. So, grab a glass of methyl alcohol and let fluorene show off its purest moves. Cheers to crystal-clear success, Sheryl!
If you are recrystallizing impure fluorene, the best solvent to use would be methyl alcohol (also known as methanol). Fluorene is freely soluble in alcohol, as mentioned in the Merck Index.
Toluene is also a viable option as it will dissolve fluorene, but it may also dissolve the impurities present in the sample.
The boiling point of toluene is approximately 110.6 °C, while the boiling point of fluorene is 295 °C.
Therefore, based on the solubility information and the boiling points, methyl alcohol would be the most suitable solvent for recrystallizing impure fluorene.
For recrystallizing impure fluorene, it is generally recommended to use a solvent in which the compound is highly soluble at high temperatures but almost insoluble at low temperatures. Based on the information available, methyl alcohol (also known as methanol) and toluene can both be potential solvents for recrystallization.
To determine the best solvent option, it is helpful to compare the boiling points of fluorene and toluene. Fluorene has a melting point (mp) of 116-117°C and a boiling point (bp) of 295°C. On the other hand, toluene has a boiling point of 110.6°C. Although the boiling point of toluene is lower than the boiling point of fluorene, it is still significantly higher than room temperature.
From the information provided, the Merck Index indicates that fluorene is soluble in hot alcohol. Additionally, it mentions that fluorene can form crystals from alcohol. Considering this, methyl alcohol (methanol) could be a suitable solvent option for recrystallization.
Recrystallization involves dissolving the compound in a hot solvent, then allowing it to slowly cool down to induce crystal formation. Since fluorene is soluble in hot alcohol and can form crystals upon cooling, using methyl alcohol as a solvent appears to be a reasonable choice for recrystallizing impure fluorene.
Please note that this explanation is based on the information provided and general understanding of recrystallization principles. It is always recommended to consult literature sources and conduct preliminary solubility tests to determine the most effective solvent for a specific recrystallization process.