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1 Post Lab PurificationofBenzoicAcid
1 Post Lab PurificationofBenzoicAcid
Discussion
The percent recovery of benzoic acid in this experiment was calculated to be 94.5%.
This value may have been affected by the amount of decolorizing charcoal used to purify the
crude benzoic acid in this experiment. By adding more decolorizing charcoal, more
impurities are adsorbed and removed from the rest of the solution during filtration, leaving us
with a smaller value for percent recovery. Decolorizing charcoal may also adsorb benzoic
acid. Therefore, it is important not to put too much decolorizing charcoal to maximize
percent recovery of benzoic acid. (AtQ2) However, too little decolorizing charcoal added
may result in a less pure recovered substance. Aside from the amount of charcoal, the
temperature of the water used to wash the crystals during suction filtration may affect percent
recovery as well. The reason why cold solvent is used to wash the crystals is to prevent
further dissolution of the crystals, which may pass through the suction filtration set-up. Cold
solvent being used to wash off the crystals therefore minimizes the sample lost because the
compound becomes insoluble to the cold liquid. (AtQ3)
As mentioned earlier, putting too little decolorizing charcoal in the solution will
produce a less pure product. The purity of the product affects its melting point since a
substance containing soluble impurities has a lower melting point compared to a pure
substance. In addition, a wide or broad melting point range means that the purity of the
product could still be improved. (AtQ4) In this experiment, the melting point of the purified
benzoic acid crystals is 120.6 °C as compared to the melting point of pure benzoic acid at
122.4 °C. This shows that the obtained benzoic acid crystals in this experiment may still
contain some impurities since its melting point is lower than that of the pure compound. The
percent error calculated between the two melting point values is 1.47%.
The maximum theoretical percent recovery from the recrystallization of 2.0 g benzoic
acid in 60 mL water is calculated to be 94.9%. (AtQ5)
Sample Calculations
Percent Recovery:
𝑚
Actual Percent Recovery = 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑧𝑜𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑 𝑐𝑟𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 × 100
𝑚𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑧𝑜𝑖𝑐 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑
1.90 𝑔
= × 100
2.01𝑔
= 94.5 %
To obtain the maximum theoretical percent recovery from recrystallization of 2.0g of benzoic
acid in 60 mL water, convert 0.17g/100 mL solubility in terms of x g/60 mL.
0.17 𝑔 𝑥𝑔
=
100 𝑚𝐿 60 𝑚𝐿
x = 0.102 g
Therefore, x = 0.102 g/60 mL at 0 °C.
Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University; 2001 February 1 [cited 2005 May 22].
Available from: http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Class/orgolab/hotfiltration.PDF.
Fessenden RJ, Fessenden JS. Techniques and Experiments for Organic Chemistry. USA:
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Most CF. Experimental Organic Chemistry. USA: Wiley & Sons; 1988.
Why do impure solids melt at lower temperatures: Melting points explained. (2018, August
07). Retrieved from https://kirsoplabs.co.uk/lab-aids/impure-solids-melt-lower-temperatures/