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    Recrystallization

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    ANITA BONG YUNG LI KPM-Guru

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    Recrystallization

    Uploaded by

    ANITA BONG YUNG LI KPM-Guru
    5 views2 pages

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    Recrystallization

    Uploaded by

    ANITA BONG YUNG LI KPM-Guru

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
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    Recrystallization

    Recrystallization, also known as fractional crystallization, is a procedure for purifying an impure compound
    in a solvent. The method of purification is based on the principle that the solubility of most solids increases
    with increased temperature. This means that as temperature increases, the amount of solute that can be
    dissolved in a solvent increases.

    Introduction

    An impure compound is dissolved (the impurities must also be soluble in the solvent), to prepare a highly
    concentrated solution at a high temperature. The solution is cooled. Decreasing the temperature causes the
    solubility of the impurities in the solution and the substance being purified to decrease. The impure
    substance then crystallizes before the impurities- assuming that there was more impure substance than there
    were impurities. The impure substance will crystallize in a purer form because the impurities won't
    crystallize yet, therefore leaving the impurities behind in the solution. A filtration process must be used to
    separate the more pure crystals at this point. The procedure can be repeated. Solubility curves can be used to
    predict the outcome of a recrystallization procedure.

    Note

    Recrystallization works best when

    1. the quantity of impurities is small


    2. the solubility curve of the desired solute rises rapidly with temperature

    The slower the rate of cooling, the larger the crystals are that form. The disadvantage of recrystallization is
    that it takes a long time. Also, it is very important that the proper solvent is used. This can only be
    determined by trial and error, based on predictions and observations. The solution must be soluble at high
    tempratures and insoluble at low temperatures. The advantage or recrystallization is that, when carried out
    correctly, it is a very effective way of obtaining a pure sample of some product, or precipitate.

    Procedure

    These are the important steps to the recrsytallization process.

    1. Dissolve the solute in the solvent: Add boiling solvent to a beaker containing the impure
    compound. Heat the beaker and keep adding solvent until the solute is completely dissolved. See
    Figure 1
    2. Cool the Solution: The solution is cooled in open air first, and then cooled in an ice bath. Slow
    cooling often leads to purer crystals. Crystals should form on the bottom of the beaker. The process
    of "seeding" can be used to aid the formation of crystals- this means adding a pure crystal of the
    compound. The pure crystal forms a surface for the solute to crsytallize upon. See Figure 2
    3. Obtain the crsytals of the solute: The more pure crystals of the solute are the desirable part of the
    mixture, and so they must be removed from the solvent. The process used for isolating the crystals
    that remain in the beaker still is called vacuum filtration. Suction is created using an aspirator, and
    whatever remains in the beaker is poured though a Buchner funnel. If for some reason there are no
    crystals visible, a gravity filtration can be performed. Activated carbon is added to the solution, the
    mixture is boiled, and a funnel system is used to transfer the new mixture to a new beaker of boiling
    solvent. Filter paper is used in the funnel to remove excess carbon. After this mixture cools slowly
    there should be large crystals present.
    4. Dry the resulting crystals: The crystals are dried by leaving them in the aspirator and then by
    removing them to a glass dish to wait a while longer. The purity of the crystals can be tested by
    performing a "melting point determination".

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