EXPERIMENT 2

PURIFICATION OF BENZOIC ACID BY RECRYSTALLIZATION AND

SUBLIMATION
QUESTIONS:
1. How does the use of fluted filter paper hasten filtration? Why is it advisable to
place a small
piece of wire between the funnel and the mouth of the flask during hot filtration?
2. Enumerate 2 techniques that can help prevent premature recrystallization.
Explain each
item. What can be the consequence if premature recrystallization was not avoided
to occur?
ANSWERS:
1. Since the fluted paper has many folds, it increases the surface area thus
allowing more solvent to enter the flask. Also, it reduces the pressure
resulting to make the flow of filtration faster. It is advisable to place a piece of
wire between the funnel and the mouth of the flask during the filtration
because it assuages any succeeding pressure formation.
2. a) Heating the solution before the filtration and keeping it very hot will
prevent premature crystal formation because the solute stays dissolved.
b) The beaker could also be heated with small amount of hot water prior to
filtration of the solution because it can form water vapour which can avoid
premature recrystallization.
If premature recrystallization was not avoided to occur, then there will be a
low percent recovery due to the lower yield of recrystallized benzoic acid
because some of the solute has already crystallized in the filter paper.