Question

Suggest two methods for determining which layer in ab extraction is the aqueous layer and which layer is the organic layer?

Answer 1

Solvent densities may be used to predict which layer is organic and which is aqueous in a separatory funnel

but there are other methods that can be useful in this determination. If unsure which layer is aqueous and which layer is organic, we can also do following method

1. Add a bit of water from a squirt bottle to the separatory funnel and watch where the water droplets go.

2.If the top layer is aqueous, the water droplets should mix with the top layer, and they will look as if they disappear. If the bottom layer is aqueous, the water droplets will fall through the top layer to mix with the bottom layer