Question

Ethylene chloride, ClCH2CH2Cl (98.96 g/mol, density = 1.26 g/mL, bp = 83 °C), is an organic solvent with polarity similar to methylene chloride, and is also not miscible with water. a) If substituted for methylene chloride in this partition coefficient experiment, would ethylene chloride form the top or bottom layer? b) Provide an explanation, using appropriate data to support your answer. c) Despite the similarities, methylene chloride is superior to ethylene chloride as an extraction solvent. Why?

Answer 1

a) Ethylene chloride will form bottom layer and water will form lower layer if substituted for methylene chloride

b) Density of ethylene chloride = 1.25 g / mL

Density of water = 1g / mL

The density of ethylene chloride is higher than the density of water hence it will remain in the bottom layer.

c) Methylene chloride is superior to to ethylene chloride as an extraction solvent due to slight polarity attributed to the dipole-dipole intermolecular forces. These intermolecular forces are not present in ethylene chloride.