Question

During extraction, after gently shaking, hydrophobic solutes such as lipids separate into the ________ layer, and polar or charged solutes such as nucleic acids remain in the _________ layer.

1) Organic, Aqueous
2) Aqueous, Organic
3) Hydrophobic, Hydrophilic
4) Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic

Answer 1

Hydrophobic solutes like lipids separate into the organic layer, while polar or charged solutes such as nucleic acids remain in the aqueous layer during extraction.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the extraction process, hydrophobic solutes such as lipids prefer nonpolar environments and will separate into the organic layer. Conversely, polar or charged solutes, such as nucleic acids, have an affinity for polar environments and will remain in the aqueous layer. This behavior is due to the principle of 'like dissolves like,' where substances with similar polarities dissolve in each other. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 1) Organic, Aqueous layer.