A student crystallized a compound from benzene and observed only a few crystals when the solution cooled to room temperature. To increase the yield of crystals, the students chilled the mixture in an ice-water bath. The chilling greatly increased the quantity of solid material in the flask. Yet when the student vacuum filtered these crystals, only a few crystals remained on the filter paper. Explain what this student might have done wrong to obtain this outcome
2 answers
The vapor pressure of the solid may have been high and the vacuum filtration simply sublimed much of the solid.
more charcoal might be added