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Why is acetone not a good recrystallization solvent?

User Czuroski
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Final answer:

Acetone is not a good recrystallization solvent due to its high miscibility with water and most organic solvents, as well as its ability to form hydrogen bonds with organic compounds. Other solvents with better solvent selectivity and lower polarity are preferred for recrystallization.

Step-by-step explanation:

Acetone is not a good recrystallization solvent because it is highly miscible with water and most organic solvents, which means it does not provide sufficient separation between the solute and impurities during the recrystallization process. In order for a recrystallization solvent to be effective, it should have a large difference in solubility between the solute and impurities at low temperatures, allowing for selective crystallization of the solute.

Additionally, acetone can easily form hydrogen bonds with many organic compounds, which can interfere with the formation of the crystal lattice and affect the purity of the recrystallized product.

For these reasons, other solvents with better solvent selectivity and lower polarity, such as ethyl acetate or hexane, are typically preferred for recrystallization processes.

User Uche
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