Question

Scenario: You are working in a flavor and fragrances laboratory and you are using valeric acid in your synthesis. At the end of your process, you find that your target ester is contaminated with a second ester of lower molecular mass. After looking at your data, you suspect your valeric acid was contaminated with caprylic acid.

1) Your labmate suggests you remove the caprylic acid impurity using acid-base liquid-liquid extraction. Why won’t their solution work? (Explain why acid-base liquid-liquid extraction cannot be used to separate valeric acid and caprylic acid.)

Answer 1