Why would each of the following pairs of solvents would be a poor choice for carrying out a liquid-liquid extraction: Isopropanol & Water. Water & Kerosene

Question

anonymous · Answer

Both isopropanol and water are polar liquids, it would be pointless to perform extraction in two phases that are miscible.

As for Kerosene, although the liquid is non polar, it contains a mixture of hydrocarbons that needs to be separated in order to retrieve your extracted non-polar solution. Generally this extra step is a waste, you are better off to use something that contains only 1 compound.