Question

For this week's lab, we have to devise our own separation and purification scheme. The mixture contains three compounds, however my problem lies in the fact that the composition isn't given to us. There are four possible combination 1)benzoic acid, benxoin, and 1,4-dibromobenzene
2) fluorene, o-toluic acid, 1,4-dibromobenzene
3) phenanthrene, methyl 4-aminobenzoate, 1,4-dibromobenzene
4) 4-aminoacetophenone, 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene, 1,4-dibromobenzene

I know that this will require me to remove one component by acid/base extraction because one holds a charge, the other two are neutral and can be separated by boiling point.

I just don't know how to write this procedure without knowing what I'm supposed to issolate. THe manual says the first step should be to dissolve .5g in methylene chloride and then diethyl ether to find which organic solvent is needed. Is this what tells me is in my compound.

ANY HELP AT ALL WOULD BE AMAZING, and the faster the better :) THANKS!

Answer 1

I don't think so. I assume you are to write a generic procedure that will work in ALL cases in which you have an acid and two neutral compounds.

Answer 2

Thank, but how am I supposed to write a procedure without knowing what im expected to react?