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mrh124
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Homework Statement
In my organic chemistry lab we are synthesizing Benzocaine by utilizing .25g of p-aminobenzoic acid, 2.5 ml ethanol, and add .3 ml H2SO4 together. Once this solution refluxes we add 10% K2CO3 dropwise and a precipitate will form.
Lots of details, but all the matters is that we have an acidic solution and are adding a base dropwise. What does adding it dropwise compared to dumping it in do compared to just dumping it?
Homework Equations
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The Attempt at a Solution
That was a lot of details, but basically we have an acidic solution and we add a base Dropwise. What does adding the base dropwise do compared to just dumping the entire basic solution into the acidic mixture? I'm thinking it has to do with Le Chatlier's principle. Adding a small amount of base allows the solution to equilibrate slowly, while just dumping a huge amount of base in causes the mixture to crystallize (form precipitates) into less stable bigger chunks with unwanted side products and lead to an inaccurate yield.