Maximum Percent Recovery of pure acetanilide?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the maximum percent recovery of pure acetanilide after recrystallization, considering its solubility in hot and cold water. Participants explore the implications of solubility at different temperatures and the effects of washing crystals with cold water during vacuum filtration.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that the maximum recovery of acetanilide is calculated using the solubility at 100°C, suggesting a maximum recovery of 90.9% based on a 0.150g sample and the solubility of 5.5g/100mL.
  • Another participant questions the assumption of using the solubility at 100°C, emphasizing that recrystallization typically occurs at lower temperatures, prompting a reevaluation of how much acetanilide would dissolve at 0°C.
  • A further response suggests that if 0.0159g is lost at 0°C, the maximum percent recovery would be 89.4%, calculated from the adjusted mass of acetanilide.
  • One participant acknowledges the importance of using the cold water solubility for accurate calculations but does not verify the mathematical steps presented.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct approach to calculating percent recovery, with differing views on whether to use solubility at 100°C or 0°C. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the final calculations and assumptions made.

Contextual Notes

There are uncertainties regarding the assumptions made about solubility at different temperatures and the impact of washing with cold water on recovery rates. The calculations presented rely on specific interpretations of solubility data.

JameB
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Homework Statement



Solubility of acetanilide in water is
5.5g/100mL at 100C
0.53g/100mL at 0C

A 0.150g sample of acetanilide containing only traces of impurities was recrystalized using a total of 3mL of hot water.

a) What is the maximum possible percent recovery of pure acetanilide? Show all steps...

b) By how much would the % recovery be reduced if, during vacuum filtration, the crystals were washed with a total of 20mL of ice cold water?

Homework Equations



Percent recovery equation and basic mathematical operations...

The Attempt at a Solution



for a) :=
mass that was recrystallized is 0.150g (is this correct assumption?)
maximum acetanilide that could dissolve in water at 100C is 0.165g (100mL = 5.5g then how much is 3mL...)

which implies that max recovery is (0.15/0.165)*100% = 90.9%

Is this right??!

for b) :=
amount that could dissolve in 20mL cold water= 20*0.53/100 = 0.106g

which implies that amount recovered = 0.150-0.106g = 0.044g

which implies that percent recovery is 0.044/0.165*100 = 26.7%

which means that % recovery will be reduced by 64.2%

Am I correct? Thanks :)
 
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JameB said:

Homework Statement



Solubility of acetanilide in water is
5.5g/100mL at 100C
0.53g/100mL at 0C

A 0.150g sample of acetanilide containing only traces of impurities was recrystalized using a total of 3mL of hot water.

a) What is the maximum possible percent recovery of pure acetanilide? Show all steps...

b) By how much would the % recovery be reduced if, during vacuum filtration, the crystals were washed with a total of 20mL of ice cold water?

Homework Equations



Percent recovery equation and basic mathematical operations...

The Attempt at a Solution



for a) :=
mass that was recrystallized is 0.150g (is this correct assumption?)
maximum acetanilide that could dissolve in water at 100C is 0.165g (100mL = 5.5g then how much is 3mL...)

which implies that max recovery is (0.15/0.165)*100% = 90.9%

Is this right??!

You are using the solubility of this material at 100C which is good to know but when you recrystallize it the temperature is lowered to near freezing (if you are doing it right). So how much would you lose in 3mL of water at 0C?
 
chemisttree said:
You are using the solubility of this material at 100C which is good to know but when you recrystallize it the temperature is lowered to near freezing (if you are doing it right). So how much would you lose in 3mL of water at 0C?

I would lose 0.0159 at 0C from 0.150g right? (or from 0.165g?)

if I lose 0.0159 then my max percent recovery is [(0.150-0.0159)/0.150]*100=89.4%

Yes?
 
I'm not going to check your math but using the cold water solubility is certainly the way to go.
 

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