Question

Explain the process of recrystallization (i.e., how does it purify solids?)

Please be as descriptive as possible! Thank you ahead of time

Answer 1

Recrystallization is a technique of purifying solid organic compound. An impure solid/ semisolid compound is dissolved in a solvent at elevated temperature and then allowed to cool slowly to crystallize out as the solution cools. The method of purification is based on the principle that the solubility of most solids increases with increased temperature.

This method has the parameters to choose to obtain the pure compound from impure.

1. Solvent or mixture of solvents
2. temperature
3. rate of heating
4. rate of cooling
5. any increase or decrease of solvent temperature, solvents should be gradual and not sudden.
6. A choice of solvent should be such that it is not that freely soluble
7. Patience to observe the crystallization.
8. If not initiations of crystallization can be done.