Final answer:
The mixtures containing orange precipitates can be used to distinguish between butanal and butanone based on their solubility in sodium carbonate solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
To distinguish between butanal and butanone, the mixtures containing orange precipitates can be used. When both compounds react with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, they produce orange precipitates. However, there is a key difference in the formation of these precipitates. Butanal produces an orange precipitate that is soluble in sodium carbonate solution, while butanone produces an orange precipitate that is insoluble in sodium carbonate solution.
This difference in solubility can be utilized to distinguish between the two compounds. By adding sodium carbonate solution to the mixture with the orange precipitate, the precipitate from butanone will remain, while the precipitate from butanal will dissolve. This distinct behavior allows us to differentiate between butanal and butanone based on the solubility of the orange precipitate formed.