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Hi,

I did an extraction experiment. I've got my basic layer, and getting my acidic salt in return. To do this, I am instructed to first "add a small amount of NaCl to help with the product precipitation". Then, again I am instructed to add HCl to "acidify" the solution. With these instructions, I will get my precipitate.

The question is, what would happen if I added too much HCl and, more importantly, can you tell me why it would not help with the precipitation by adding too much or extra of HCl to the basic layer?

I actually did this by accident in the lab. I miscalculated using the formula c1v1=c2v2 and added 9mL of the HCl which should be only .075mL. I'm trying to remember what happened to my solution, but obviously there was too much HCl in it.

Please help,
Thanks!

5 answers

I wish I could help but there is nothing in your post to tell us what experiment you were doing. Sorry. My tea leaves aren't working tonight.
What type of info must I supply? Or is it too much info to be asked?

If I can reclarify..

In the experiment, I am separating an unknown organic mixture of two solids by extraction. From this I will get the Basic layer, and acidic layer, both will be the source for isolating the precipitates from each.

In the context of the experiment, I've added some HCl to the basic layer and the solid precipitates. If I continue to add acid, the solid will redissolve. Why does this happen?

I hope that helps.
Also, the solvent used for extraction is ethyl acetate. So, the organic mixture to be separated by extraction dissolved in ethyl acetate.
Frankly, I don't know why it redissolves upon adding too much HCl but why not recalculate the c1v1 = c2v2 and see how much NaOH to add to neutralize that extra HCl you added. That should get you back to the starting point or at least where you had the ppt form.
Thank you.