Recrystallization of benzoic acid

[fruitl00p]

Hello,

I did a lab on the recrystallization of benzoic acid. My solvent was hot water and used charcoal to adsorb any color impurities. I am trying to figure out how I should write a reaction and a mechanism for this. Is there even a reaction and mechanism I can write for this?

Any suggestions?

 

[chemisttree]

... I am trying to figure out how I should write a reaction and a mechanism for this. Is there even a reaction and mechanism I can write for this?

No. Nope. Nyet. Nein...

 

[Blueshift5]

I can provide some guidance on how to approach writing a reaction and mechanism for the recrystallization of benzoic acid. Firstly, it's important to understand the purpose of recrystallization in this context - it is a purification technique used to remove impurities from a solid compound, in this case benzoic acid. The solvent, hot water, is chosen based on its ability to dissolve the compound at high temperatures, while also being able to precipitate it out at lower temperatures. The charcoal is used as an adsorbent to remove any colored impurities that may be present in the benzoic acid.

In terms of writing a reaction, it would be more accurate to describe the process as a physical change rather than a chemical reaction. The benzoic acid is simply being dissolved in the hot water and then recrystallized as the solution cools. However, there is a change in the physical state of the compound as it goes from a solid to a liquid and then back to a solid again. So, you could write a reaction that shows the dissolution of benzoic acid in hot water and its subsequent recrystallization upon cooling.

As for a mechanism, there isn't a specific chemical reaction occurring during recrystallization. Instead, it is a process that involves solubility and crystallization. You can describe the mechanism as follows:

1. The hot water dissolves the benzoic acid due to its high temperature and the polar nature of both the solvent and the compound.
2. As the solution cools, the solubility of the benzoic acid decreases, causing it to precipitate out of the solution and form crystals.
3. The addition of charcoal helps to adsorb any colored impurities, resulting in a purer product.
4. The crystals can then be collected through filtration and dried, resulting in a purified sample of benzoic acid.

I hope this helps guide you in writing a reaction and mechanism for the recrystallization of benzoic acid. Keep in mind that this is a physical process and not a chemical reaction, so the focus should be on the changes in physical state and solubility rather than specific chemical reactions.