Question

During work up of the SN1 reaction, the organic product separates from the aqueous layer upon standing in a separatory funnel. State whether the organic product forms the upper or lower layer and briefly explain your choice. The SN1 treatment involves treatment of 2-methyl-2 butanol with HCL to synthesize 2-chloro-2-methylbutane

Answer 1

You are going carry out the reaction with water and organic solvent. if you use 2-methyl-2-butanol and water then the produced product will be in organic layer which will be uppler layer in separating funnel. The density of 2-methyl-2-butanol is less than water . Hence always the solvent which has more density will be lower layer in separating funnel . In the solvent you used water has more dense than 2-methyl-2-butanol