Question

1. What is the major advantage of using steam distillation as opposed to regular distillation to isolate Eugenol?

2. What tests did you perform to identify and check the purity of Eugenol? Explain how you could confirm the purity of your product based on the experimental results obtained.

3. What is the purpose of adding a drying agent to the organic layer after removing it from the separatory funnel? Give a complete equation to support your answer using chemical formulas.

Answer 1

1) The boiling point of eugenol is very high (254^oC) and most of the organic compounds decompose at such high temperatures. Steam distillation has the advantage that it allows eugenol to be distilled at a much lower boiling point (< 100^oC) without getting decomposed.

2) we have performed bromine test where a little amount of bromine solution is added to the eugenol. The red color of the bromine disappeared and we have got a white compound which proves the presence of eugenol. The purity of the eugenol is confirmed by the fact that the complete conversion of eugenol happened after carrying out the bromine test which is an indication that the isolated eugenol is pure.

3) A drying agent is added to the organic layer to remove the traces of the water.

Na₂SO₄ + H₂O= Na₂SO₄.5H₂O