Question

If you need to extract some components originally present in an aqueous solution into an organic solvent, you select isopropanol, but it is not an appropriate solvent due to its ________.

a) High polarity
b) Low volatility
c) Non-polar nature
d) Aqueous solubility

Answer 1

Isopropanol is not an appropriate solvent for extracting components from an aqueous solution due to its high polarity and aqueous solubility, which hinder effective separation based on differential solubility.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you need to extract some components originally present in an aqueous solution into an organic solvent, selecting isopropanol might not be an appropriate solvent due to its high polarity and aqueous solubility. The purpose of using an organic solvent for extraction is to separate compounds based on their differential solubility in water versus the organic solvent. Organic compounds typically have low solubility in water and high solubility in nonpolar solvents. Isopropanol is more polar than other organic solvents, which means it can dissolve both water-soluble and some organic compounds, making it less effective for extraction purposes where a significant difference in solubility is required.