144k views
4 votes
You've just synthesized a new molecule and need to purify it by recrystallization. You find that it is poorly soluble in water and highly soluble in ethanol, even when cooled in ice. What solvent should work in this situation

User Larand
by
5.7k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

Water is used as a solvent.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to purify the new molecule, recrystallization occurs in which the new molecule should be added in water and heated the water in order to increase the solubility of the solution. The new molecule dissolve in water while the impurity remains undissolved which can be removed from the solution and then remain the solution to be cold down and the new molecule will again undissolved and the molecule can be extracted without any impurities. We use water instead of ethanol due to lower solubility.

User Ryan Doom
by
6.3k points