JEE MainChemistryGeneral Organic Chemistry
Which of the following conditions is essential for the purification of an organic compound by steam distillation?
Options
- AThe compound should be miscible with water and its vapour pressure should be negligible at the boiling point o
- BThe compound should be miscible with water and it should decompose at its normal boiling point.
- CThe compound should be immiscible with water and its vapour pressure should be negligible at the boiling point
- DThe compound should be immiscible with water and it should have a significant vapour pressure at the boiling p
Correct answer
D. The compound should be immiscible with water and it should have a significant vapour pressure at the boiling p
Step-by-step solution
For an organic compound to be purified by steam distillation, it must satisfy two primary conditions: 1. It should be immiscible with water, so that it can be easily separated from the aqueous layer after condensation. 2. It must be steam volatile, meaning it should have a significant vapour pressure at the boiling point of water (around 373 K). Therefore, the compound must be immiscible with water and possess a significant vapour pressure at the boiling temperature of water. Answer: The compound should be immiscib