Question

The chemical transformation and its effect on compound solubility form the basis of Acid and base extraction experiment and the general technique of acid separations by solvent extraction.

a) Comment on the relative solubilities of the organic reactant and product in the diethyl ether

phase vs the aqueous phase.

b) Explain why the solubility properties of the organic starting material change upon

conversion to the product. Please be specific in your explanation (hint: your explanation

should focus on polarity and intermolecular forces).

Answer 1

a) Comment on the relative solubilities of the organic reactant and product in the diethyl ether

phase vs the aqueous phase.

Solution :-

Polar compounds dissolves in polar solvents and non poalr compounds dissolves in the non polar solvents the organic reactant are soluble in the diethyl ether because ether is the non polar solvent and most of the organic compoounds have the non polar ends therefore they are more soluble in non polar organic solvents. Upon the reaction the functional groups changes in the product therefore the products of the reactions are may be polar in nature therefore they can be soluble in aqueous layer or if they are not polar enough then they will be soluble in the ether layer.

b) Explain why the solubility properties of the organic starting material change upon conversion to the product. Please be specific in your explanation (hint: your explanation should focus on polarity and intermolecular forces).

Solution :- When reaction takes place the functional groups of the organic compunds changes this causes the change in the polarities of the molecules.

Therefore polar products can be soluble in the polar solvent like water. but the non polar organic reactants cannot be soluble in the aqueous layer.

The solvation process is possible with the polar molecules in the water layer which causes the solublize the products. More polar compounds means more interactions with the polar solvents which increases the extent of the solubility of the perticular compounds.