Title:-

 Extraction of benzoic acid from a mixture

Theory: -
Benzoic acid is the simplest benzene-based carboxylic acid. It is the most common natural
source is gum benzoin, a resin found in the bark of the trees of the genus styrax. It is an organic
compound which is described by the chemical formula C6H5COOH. This compound exists as a
crystalline, colorless solid under normal conditions.

Principle: -
The benzoic acid can be separated from a mixture containing benzoic acid, cellulose and methyl
orange. In it, the water-insoluble benzoic acid is converted into water-soluble salt by treating the
carboxylic acid with a base. Finally, the benzoic acid will be precipitated by adding a strong acid
to the carboxylate salt solution.

Chemicals/ Reagents
 Benzoic acid
 Cellulose
 Methyl orange
 Diethyl ether
 HCL
 NaOH
Apparatus
 Separatory funnel
 Erlenmeyer Flask
 Beaker
 Stirrer
 Steam bath
 Figure no: - 1 Extraction of desired solute from organic layer
Procedure:
1. Weigh 4g of the crude benzoic acid mixture using the analytical balance and place it
in a 125 ml Erlenmeyer Flask.
2. Add 50 ml of the diethyl ether to the flask.
3. Add the boiling stones and heat the mixture on a steam bath until the ether begins to
boil.
4. Vacuum filter the mixture using a Buchner funnel and a filter flask.
5. Place the filtrate (ether) in a 500ml separatory funnel and extract twice with 30 ml
portions of 1M sodium hydroxide.
6. Now collect and keep the aqueous layer from both extractions combine the two
aqueous layers in a 250 ml beaker or a flask.
7. Cool the combine aqueous extracts on ice
8. Acidify with 50 ml of 6M HCL.
9. Collect the benzoic acid by suction filtration and save it on a watch glass.

Observation and calculations:

Weigh of extracted component (benzoic acid) = 0.5g
Mass of Organic Mixture containing benzoic acid = 4.0g
Extracted Benzoic acid
% Yield (w/w) = × 100
Initial mass of Mixture

0.5 g
= 4.0 g × 100

= 12.5 %

Results:
12.5% Benzoic acid is extracted from the given mixture by Solvent extraction.