Question

The liquid 1-decanethiol is insoluble in water. If approximately equal volumes of water and 1-decanethiol were mixed in a separatory funnel, would the water layer end up on the top or on the bottom

Answer 1

1-decanethiol on top layer and water on the bottom layer.

Step-by-step explanation:

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In this case, since long-chained alcohols have a predominant nonpolar section in the molecule, we understand they are largely insoluble in water, also because their densities tend to be less than that of the water, which means they act as a light phase and water the heavy phase.

In such a way, when mixing equal volumes of 1-decanethiol and water in a separatory funnel, a phase splitting is evidenced and the alcohol remains on the top layer because of its lower density.

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