A is a lighter phenol and B is an aromatic carboxylic acid. Separation...
Separation of Phenols and Carboxylic Acids
Separating a mixture of a lighter phenol (A) and an aromatic carboxylic acid (B) can effectively be achieved using a sodium bicarbonate solution. Here's a detailed explanation of why this method works.
Properties of the Compounds
- Phenol (A):
- A weak acid but does not react significantly with sodium bicarbonate.
- Remains soluble in organic solvents and retains its original form in aqueous solutions.
- Aromatic Carboxylic Acid (B):
- A stronger acid compared to phenol.
- Reacts with sodium bicarbonate to form a water-soluble sodium salt and carbon dioxide gas.
Separation Process
1. Dissolution in Sodium Bicarbonate:
- When the mixture is treated with sodium bicarbonate solution, the aromatic carboxylic acid (B) reacts to form a sodium salt of the acid.
- This reaction generates carbon dioxide, which can be observed as effervescence.
2. Formation of Layers:
- The sodium salt of the carboxylic acid is soluble in water, while the phenol remains in the organic phase.
- This allows for the separation of the two compounds into different layers.
3. Extraction:
- The aqueous layer containing the sodium salt can be separated from the organic layer containing phenol.
- The salt can then be converted back to the carboxylic acid by acidifying the aqueous layer.
Conclusion
Using sodium bicarbonate is a selective method for separating lighter phenols from aromatic carboxylic acids. The ability of sodium bicarbonate to convert the carboxylic acid into a soluble salt while leaving the phenol untouched is the key to this separation process.
A is a lighter phenol and B is an aromatic carboxylic acid. Separation...
Carboxylic acids are soluble in sodium bicarbonate but phenol are not dissolve in it, so they are separated because carboxylic acid react with NaHCO3 and form sodium carboxylate.
R — COOH + NaHCO3 → R — COO−Na+ + H2CO3