Question

You are given a solution of benzoic acid, anthracene, and ethyl 4-aminobenzoate in methylene chloride. If you perform an extraction with acidic aqueous solution, the majority of what compounds will remain in the organic layer?

Select all that apply. (1 pt)
a) anthracene
b) benzoic acid
c) ethyl 4-aminobenzoate
d) None of the compounds

Answer 1

In an acidic aqueous extraction, anthracene will remain in the methylene chloride layer because it is a neutral compound that does not react with the acidic solution.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing an extraction with an acidic aqueous solution on a mixture of benzoic acid, anthracene, and ethyl 4-aminobenzoate in methylene chloride, the compounds that will remain in the organic layer can be determined based on their acidic or basic properties and their solubility. Benzoic acid, being an acid, will react with a base present in the acidic solution to form a water-soluble salt, thus moving into the aqueous layer. Ethyl 4-aminobenzoate functions as a base and will also react to form a water-soluble salt under acidic conditions. On the other hand, anthracene is a nonpolar, neutral molecule that will not react with the acidic aqueous solution, so it will remain in the organic layer.

Anthracene will remain in the methylene chloride layer as it is neutral and not reactive towards the acidic solution. Therefore, the correct answers are:

• a) anthracene

Answer 2

c) ethyl 4-aminobenzoate

Step-by-step explanation:

In an extraction by solvent, the solvent will dissolve solutes in the sample and will be recovery late. To dissolve the solutes, the solvent must have chemical similarities with them.

For example, polar solvents only dissolve polar solutes, nonpolar solvents only dissolve nonpolar solutes, acidic solvents only dissolve acidic solutes, and basic solvents only dissolve basic solutes.

So, if the extraction is being done with an acidic solvent, the acids will be extracted from the organic layer (the layer with an organic solvent which is the methylene chloride). The acids compounds are anthracene and benzoic acid. Then, they will be removed, and the majority of ethyl 4-aminobenzoate, which is a basic solvent, will remain in the organic layer.