Question

How would you separate a mixture of phenol and benzoic acid in the laboratory using chemical method of separation?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

benzoic acid is the most acidic compound among them, it can react with bicarbonate ion. Phenol is less acidic than benzoic acid, but still acidic enough to reacts with hydroxide ion which is more basic. Naphthalene is not acidic compared to those two compounds.

If we use sodium hydroxide, both phenol and benzoic acid will be extracted as both can react with hydroxide. If we use aqueous sodium bicarbonate, benzoic acid will be in aqueous layer as benzoate ion.Then label the first aqueous layer. Next, do the same but use aqueous sodium hydroxide, phenol will be extracted as phenolate.

By this we seprate both the comp[ound by using separatic funnel.