Chapter 5.3, Problem 1E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:The reason of better recovery from three extraction with 5-mL portions of a solvent as compared to single extraction with 15 mL of solvent needs to be explainedwhen K= 0.5.

Concept Introduction:

A solution is a mixture of solute and solvent. To separate the solute from the solution, different separation methods can be used. Separatory funnel is one of the most common method in which the solution is placed in a separatory funnel and shaken with an immiscible solvent. Solute distributes between both solvents to form two layers. At equilibrium the ratio of concentration of solute is constant in each layer that can be represented by partition coefficient or distribution coefficient. It is the ratio of the concentration of a substance in one medium (C₁) to the concentration in a second medium (C₂) at equilibrium.

  ${\text{K}}_{\text{d}}\text{ = }\frac{{\text{C}}_{\text{1}}}{{\text{C}}_{\text{2}}}$