Scientist looking for new substances in plants grind up the plants with methanol. This solvent dissolves many plant compounds. H
owever, methanol is flammable and toxic (especially if the vapour is inhaled). Large crystals can be made to help scientists work out what the compounds are made of. Explain how you would make plant-compound crystals using methanol.
Crystals can be made from methanol by recrystallizing the plant extract from methanol.
The methanol/water system is heated rapidly using a hot plate and the plant extract dissolves in the heating solution until a clear solution is obtained.
The solution is now cooled rapidly. The interior of the flask used for the re crystallization may even by scratched to assist the quick formation of crystals. Large crystals of plant compounds may be obtained using this method. This process should be carried out in a fume hood because of the toxicity of methanol.
