Question

An extraction specified that the aqueous solution containing dissolved organic material be extracted twice with 10-mL portions of diethyl ether. A student temoved the lower layer after the first extraction and added the second 10-mL portion of ether to the upper layer remaining in the separatory funnel. After shaking the funnel, the student observed only one phase, with no interference. Explain.

Answer 1

If we add ether to the aqueous solution then two layers will be formed. Upper ether layer is ether layer and lower layer is aqueous layer, this is because ether has less density than aqueous solution. If we remove the lower layer then separatory funnel contains only ether layer. After that a0.0 mL of ether added to the funnel which contaning ether layer, so we have only ether solvent in the funnel that is why we will have only one phase. If we remove the upper layer (ether) in first extraction then we will have two layers in sencond extraction. But we remove aqueous layer in first extraction, hence we will have only ether in funnel in second extraction.