EXPERIMENT # 04

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 sty ax. It is an organic compound which is
described by the chemical formula C6H5COOH. This compound exists as a crystalline, colorless solid
under normal conditions.
Objective
This experiment aims to separate benzoic acid from a mixture containing benzoic acid, cellulose,
(a natural polymer of glucose) and methyl orange (a common acid/base indicator).
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
Chemicals that are used in this experiment are, Benzoic acid (Hai hang industry), Cellulose( Silverline
Chemicals ) Company, Methyl orange (Honeywell Research Chemicals), Diethyl ether (Sigma Aldrich
Chemicals), HCL ( Aldrich Chemicals), NaOH ( DCM Shriram Ltd./Gujarat ).
Apparatus
Glasswares used in this experiment are Separatory funnel(100ml), Erlenmeyer Flask(500ml),
Beaker(500ml) ,Stirrer, Steam bath that were taken from University Of Gujrat(UOG) chemicals labortary.
 Fig.1.5 Extraction of desired solute from organic layer
Procedure
 Weigh 4g of the crude benzoic acid mixture using the analytical balance and place it in a 125
ml Erlenmeyer flask.
 Add 50 ml of the diethyl ether to the flask.
 Add the boiling stones and heat the mixture on a steam bath until the ether begins to boil.
 Vacuum filter the mixture using a Buchner funnel and a filter flask.
 Place the filtrate (ether) in a 500ml separatory funnel and extract twice with 30 ml portions of
1M sodium hydroxide.
 Now collect and keep the aqueous layer from both extractions combine the two aqueous
layers in a 250 ml beaker or a flask.
 Cool the combine aqueous extracts on ice
 Acidify with 50 ml of 6M HCL.
 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

0.5g
= × 100
4.0 g
= 12.5 %
Results
12.5% Benzoic acid is extracted from the given mixture by Solvent extraction.