Final answer:
Liquid-liquid extraction is a separation process where only one component is soluble in a given solvent. It involves selectively partitioning a solute between two immiscible phases based on its solubility in each phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The separation process in which only one of the components is soluble in a given solvent is called liquid-liquid extraction or liquid-liquid partitioning. This technique involves bringing a phase containing a solute into contact with a second phase, and the solute selectively partitions itself between the two phases based on its solubility in each phase.
For example, if we have a mixture of oil and water, oil being insoluble in water, we can perform a liquid-liquid extraction by adding a solvent that is only soluble in oil. The solvent will selectively dissolve the oil, allowing us to separate it from the water.
Some applications of liquid-liquid extraction include the separation of organic compounds from water, the purification of natural products, and the isolation of specific substances from mixtures.