Question

If you had a mixture of butyric acid and hexane, how would you separate the two compounds?.

Answer 1

First of all take separatory funnel.

Add the mixture of compounds into it.

Pour Water into it.

Add NaOH base. This will result in following reaction.

CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH + NaOH → CH₃CH₂CH₂COONa + H₂O

The resulting salt (CH₃CH₂CH₂COONa) is is soluble in water.

The water is the bottom layer (more density) and contains sodium butyrate.

Pour out the water from separatory funnel.

The organic layer (hexane) is left behind.

Now, take the aquous layer and neutralize it using HCl.

Once, neutralized remove the water.