Question

Phenol and benzoic acid are both weak acids that are solublein

ether and insoluble in water. Benzoic acid is soluble inboth 10%
NaOH and 10% NaHCO3. Phenol is soluble only in thestronger base,
10% NaOH. From this information, write a flowscheme for separating
and recovering phenol and benzoicacid.

Answer 1

Se explanation below

Step-by-step explanation:

Here we will use the technique of extraction taking advantange of the different solubilities of Phenol and and Benzoic Acid in the NaOH and and NaHCO₃ solvents (In reality their anions). Notice that phenol does not dissolve in the weak base NaHCO₃ so we can have the solution of phenol and benzoic acid in ether and proceed to extract with this weak base, the phenol will remain in solution in the organic ether solution and the sodium benzoate will go into the water layer.

We then will repeat the extraction procedure to separate the phenol from the organic layer by using NaOH instead.

Benzoic Acid /

Phenol/ Ether ⇒Extract w/ ⇒ Organic Layer = Phenol/Ether

10 % NaHCO₃ Aqueous Layer = Sodium Benzoate

Sodium benzoate ⇒ 10 % HCl to precipitate Benzoic Acid

Filter Precipitate benzoic Acid ⇒ Recrystallize benzoic Acid

Phenol / Ether Extract w/ Organic Layer = Eher

10 % NaOH Aqueous Layer =

Sodium Phenolate

Sodium Phenolate ⇒ 10% HCl to precipitate Phenol Filter Precipitate Phenol ⇒ Recrystallize Phenol