Explaining purification techniques

Hey guys, i have just been looking at an edexcel paper 3B conference/revision day powerpoint and it says that we need to explain purification techniques in terms of:

A separating funnel

Drying agent

Collecting distilate over a narrow temp range

Anyone got any ideas? Thanks

Reply 1

Talya

A separating funnel: Will separate an organic layer and an aqueous layer. So you hope all your impurities are water soluble and your desired product is organic soluble. Wash the organic layer with water several times (though in labs we tend to use brine, not just water. No idea why)

Drying agent: Removes water from your product. Magnesium sulphate is one. Then you have the filter the remaining liquid to get rid of the mag sulphate.

Is that what you were asking? Not sure about the distillate one.