Question

Select the fastest way to differentiate between the organic and aqueous layers of an extraction.a. Hold a white piece of paper behind the separatory funnel. The organic layer will have a slight yellow color, while the aqueous layer will be colorless.b. Add a few drops of one of the layers to a test tube containing 1 mL of water. Shake the test tube to determine the solubility of the layer in water.c. Separate the layers and heat them. The organic layer will have the lowest boiling point.d. Weigh equal volumes of each layer. The aqueous layer will have the highest mass.

Answer 1

Answer:

b. Add a few drops of one of the layers to a test tube containing 1 mL of water. Shake the test tube to determine the solubility of the layer in water

Explanation:

Option a is not true, it depends on the compound being extracted.

Option c is not true, although most of the solvents used in extractions have lower boiling point than water there are exceptions, for example toluene.

Option  d is not true. Again most of the solvents used in extractions are less dense than water, there are many exceptions, for example chloroform, so for equal volumes the chloroform layer will weigh more.

Option b. is the correct one.

One will test the  miscibility of the layer in water. If it inmiscible then one would know is the organic layer. If it is the aqueous layer then it will completely be miscible.