How Do You Purify Compounds Using Recrystallization Techniques?

  • Thread starter Thread starter quarkboy
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Recrystallization is discussed as a method for purifying compounds, particularly compound A, which is contaminated with compound B. If compound B is fully soluble in ethanol, recrystallization can yield a pure product, but complete purity is unlikely due to potential co-precipitation. When compound B has similar solubility to compound A in ethyl acetate, mixed melting points can help identify compound A, but again, full purity is not guaranteed. The solubility of an unknown compound C in ethanol is also analyzed, with calculations provided for the minimum ethanol required for recrystallization and the expected recovery amount. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the complexities and limitations of achieving 100% purity in recrystallization processes.
quarkboy
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Recrystallization Questions - help needed urgent!

I can't figure this out, please help... I will update with answers as I get them.

1. Compound A has a solubility in ethyl acetate of 18 mg per 50 mL at 20 Celsius, and a solubility of 0.28g per 50 mL at 75 Celsius.

You are given a sample of 0.800g compound A which is contaminated with 2 mg of compound B.

(a). If compound B is always completely soluble in ethanol, how could you purify compound A? Would the result of this purification be 100% pure A? Explain.

Ans: Recrystallization method must be followed as per lab practice. However, since compound B dissolves completely in the solvent we are able to obtain a pure end product.

(b). If compound B has approx. the same values of solubility in ethyl acetate as compound A, how could you purify compound A? Would the result of this purification be 100% pure A? Explain.

Ans: As above, however mixed melting points must be used to identify the compound A. It will not be completely pure as an end-product.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. The solubility of an unknown compound, C, in ethanol is 24mg per 100 ml at 20 Celsius and 0.78g per 50ml at 90 Celsius.

(a). Calculate the min. amount of ethanol needed to recrystallize 2.4g of compound C.

Ans: 0.78g/50ml * 0.024g/x ; x = 158.3ml of ethanol required [90 Celsius]

(b). Calculate the amount of compount C recovered by filtration at 20 Celsius from this min. amount of ethanol.

Ans: 158.3ml (as above) * 24mg/100ml = y

Therefore, 2.4g - y = amount of ethanol [20 Celsius]
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Quarkboy, please show what effort you've made first. Click my signature.
 
Last edited:
Thanks.

Refer to Original Post.
 
(a). If compound B is always completely soluble in ethanol, how could you purify compound A? Would the result of this purification be 100% pure A? Explain.

Ans: Recrystallization method must be followed as per lab practice. However, since compound B dissolves completely in the solvent we are able to obtain a pure end product.

How soluble is compound A in ethanol? btw, recrystallization procedures are basically never 100% pure, in order to obtain such purities (such as with hydrogen phthalate) one needs to adhere to additional procedures (for instance, drying, your product will probably be contaminated with water). Crystallization always involves a bit of co-precipitation, Fajan's method actually depends on such a phenomenon.
 
quarkboy said:
I can't figure this out, please help... I will update with answers as I get them.

1. Compound A has a solubility in ethyl acetate of 18 mg per 50 mL at 20 Celsius, and a solubility of 0.28g per 50 mL at 75 Celsius.

You are given a sample of 0.800g compound A which is contaminated with 2 mg of compound B.

(a). If compound B is always completely soluble in ethanol, how could you purify compound A? Would the result of this purification be 100% pure A? Explain.

Ans: Recrystallization method must be followed as per lab practice. However, since compound B dissolves completely in the solvent we are able to obtain a pure end product.

(b). If compound B has approx. the same values of solubility in ethyl acetate as compound A, how could you purify compound A? Would the result of this purification be 100% pure A? Explain.

Ans: As above, however mixed melting points must be used to identify the compound A. It will not be completely pure as an end-product.
Looks roughly okay so far...but it's never an easy task to guess what the teacher "wants" you to say.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. The solubility of an unknown compound, C, in ethanol is 24mg per 100 ml at 20 Celsius and 0.78g per 50ml at 90 Celsius.

(a). Calculate the min. amount of ethanol needed to recrystallize 2.4g of compound C.

Ans: 0.78g/50ml * 0.024g/x ; x = 158.3ml of ethanol required [90 Celsius]
That's not an equation. Please rewrite the solution showing your reasoning. Where have you used the fact that you want to make 2.4 g of C crystals ?

How much C will dissolve in 100 mL at 90C ? How much at 20C ? What happens to the difference ? This tells you the weight of crystal formed per 100mL of ethanol. Now use this ratio to determine the volume of ethanol required to make 2.4g of crystal.


(b). Calculate the amount of compount C recovered by filtration at 20 Celsius from this min. amount of ethanol.

Ans: 158.3ml (as above) * 24mg/100ml = y

Therefore, 2.4g - y = amount of ethanol [20 Celsius]
Redo above part and then retry this.
 
Thread 'Confusion regarding a chemical kinetics problem'
TL;DR Summary: cannot find out error in solution proposed. [![question with rate laws][1]][1] Now the rate law for the reaction (i.e reaction rate) can be written as: $$ R= k[N_2O_5] $$ my main question is, WHAT is this reaction equal to? what I mean here is, whether $$k[N_2O_5]= -d[N_2O_5]/dt$$ or is it $$k[N_2O_5]= -1/2 \frac{d}{dt} [N_2O_5] $$ ? The latter seems to be more apt, as the reaction rate must be -1/2 (disappearance rate of N2O5), which adheres to the stoichiometry of the...
Back
Top