Question

Can we separate acetic acid and ethyl acetate mixture without doing distillation???

Every one are welcome to give a shot....

Answer 1

i'd guess not easily, but i'm sure there is an organic solvent that will dissolve the ester but not the acid.

Answer 2

i think yes :) by precipitation :)

Answer 3

If mixture is treated with sodium carbonate solution
it neutralizes acid. Ester is less soluble in water.

Answer 4

sorry guys but i cant do neutralization ..... apart from these is there any other chances..
@Gebooors , @chmvijay , @JFraser

Answer 5

Umm...i'm not sure will "CATECHOLAMINE METHODOLOGY" and CHROMATOGRAPHY" methods helps in filtering..

Answer 6

if you're not allowed to create derivatives, then separate, i'd guess that's about it

Answer 7

"If mixture is treated with sodium carbonate solution it neutralizes acid. Ester is less soluble in water."

i don't see why that isn't a good choice, it's by far the easiest thing you can do.

You can also run a column, an ion-exchange would work best if you deprotonate acetic acid.

Answer 8

acetic acid forms very easily ppt with for example lead ions where as ethyl acetate wont :P
seperate and convert back the pb acetate to acetic acid simple