USING A SEPARATING FUNNEL

Immiscible liquids,such as oil and water can be separated by using a separating funnel. The mixture is put into a separating funnel, shaken and allowed to settle. The oil and water from two separate layer. The liquid with higher density, in this case water forms the lower layer. Remove the stopper and open the tap after standing. The water runs out through the tap. The oil remains in the funnel and can be run out into another beaker.

SOLVENT EXTRACTION

An useful technique for dissolving out a component from a mixture using a suitable solvent is called SOLVENT EXTRACTION.

Assume we wish to extract iodine which is dissolved in water together with some impurities. Iodine is more soluble than water. We can put the aqueous solution of iodine into a separating funnel and add 1,1,1-trichloroethane to it. Water and 1,1,1-trichloroethane form two separate layers because they are immiscible. After shaking, most of the iodine will then dissolve in the 1,1,1-trichloroethane layer. 1,1,1-trichloroethane from water, pure iodine can then be obtained by evaporating after separating.