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Recrystallization
Miranda, Marilyn; Orense, Lara Melissa S.
Miranda, Marilyn, School of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mapua Institute of Technology; Orense, Lara Melissa S., CHM142L/B21, School of
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mapua Institute of Technology
ABSTRACT
Recrystallization is a method of choice for purifying organic solids. It involves dissolving a solid in a solvent and crystallizing
it again, taking the opportunity to discard impurities along the way. The researchers were to identify the appropriate solvent
for recrystallization technique and to use this method to purify a solid sample. Different solutes were to be dissolved in
different solvents and the researchers must observed its solubility behavior. For the recrystallization of the impure
compound, series of procedures like hot gravity filtration and vacuum filtration were to be followed to obtain a pure solid
compound. Its melting point and percent recovery were to be determined by the researchers. The researchers successfully
determined the solutes solubility behavior in different solvent. Also, they managed to get a high yield of crystals from
recrystallization although their observed melting point was far from that of the actual. This may be due to the amount of
sample used and the wrong observed temperature when it starts melting and when it completely melts. The researchers
should notice these small details in order for them to have an accurate and correct results.
Keywords: recrystallization, solvent, solubility, filtration, purify
INTRODUCTION
Substances, when reached specific temperatures, dissolve
in a solvent. Differential solubility is defined as the
difference in the amount of solid that can be dissolved in a
solvent as affected by variations in temperature. Usually,
substances or solutes solubility increases as the
temperature increases.
Recrystallization is a method of choice for purifying organic
solids. It involves dissolving a solid in a solvent and
crystallizing it again, taking the opportunity to discard
impurities along the way. One normally chooses a solvent in
which the solubility increases significantly with temperature.
The solid is dissolved in a minimal amount of hot solvent,
and the solution is filtered to remove insoluble impurities.
Upon cooling the solution, the desired compound
crystallizes, leaving soluble impurities in solution.
Alternatively, a mixed solvent system can be used to modify
the solubility the key is to get the compound into solution
then get it back out of solution.
In order for recrystallization to be effective, the solid and
impurities must have different solubilities in the solvent.
Impurities that remain undissolved in the solvent are
removed by filtration of the hot mixture. On the other hand,
soluble impurities that remain dissolved even after
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Water
C
S
I
I
S
I
S
H
S
S
I
S
I
S
Ethanol
Benzene
C
I
S
S
I
I
I
C
I
I
I
I
S
I
H
S
S
S
S
S
S
H
S
S
S
S
S
I
Ethyl
Acetate
C
H
I
S
S
S
S
S
I
S
S
S
I
I
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SOLVENT
ethanol
water
ethyl acetate
water
water
water
3 of 5
4 of 5
% recovery
wt pure acetanilide
100
A
4.30 g
volume H2O
small
100 ml
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