Solvents Used in Recrystallisation

Ethyl benzoate (98°/19mm) Ethylene glycol (68°/4mm) Formamide (110°/10mm) Glycerol (126°/llmm) 

Xylenes (o 143-145° m 138-139°,p 138°) steam or electrically heated water baths should be heated over a naked flame. 

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TABLE 5. COMMON SOLVENTS USED IN RECRYSTALLISATION (and their boiling points)... 

The solvent is chosen so that the desired product is readily soluble in it at high temperatures, but only sparingly soluble at lower temperatures so that crystals form as the hot mixture cools down. The solvent used to recrystallise benzoic acid is water. 

Drying of crystals. Whenever possible crystals should be dried in a smdl vacuum desiccator containing a suitable desiccant. The latter depends upon the nature of the solvent used c/. p. 19). However for most purposes anhydrous calcium chloride is satisfactory. If a hydrocarbon has been used in the recrystallisation, a few thin fresh shavings of paraffin wax are efficacious. 

Dinitrophenylhydra2ones usually separate in well-formed crystals. These can be filtered at the pump, washed with a diluted sample of the acid in the reagent used, then with water, and then (when the solubility allows) with a small quantity of ethanol the dried specimen is then usually pure. It should, however, be recrystallised from a suitable solvent, a process which can usually be carried out with the dinitrophenylhydrazones of the simpler aldehydes and ketones. Many other hydrazones have a very low solubility in most solvents, and a recrystallisation which involves prolonged boiling with a large volume of solvent may be accompanied by partial decomposition, and with the ultimate deposition of a sample less pure than the above washed, dried and unrecrystal-lised sample. 

After the main filtrate has been removed, the crystals should be washed in order to remove the mother liquor which, on drying, would contaminate the crystals. The wash liquid will normally be the same solvent as was used for recrystallisation, and must be used in the smallest possible... 

A substance is usually taken to be of an acceptable purity when the measured property is unchanged by further treatment (especially if it agrees with a recorded value). In general, at least two different methods, such as recrystallisation and distillation, should be used in order to ensure maximum purity. Crystallisation may be repeated (from the same solvent or better from different solvents) until the substance has a constant melting point or absorption spectrum, and until it distils repeatedly within a narrow, specified temperature range. 

Mixed Solvents. Where a substance is too soluble in one solvent and too insoluble in another, for either to be used for recrystallisation, it is often possible (provided they are miscible) to use them as a mixed solvent. (In general, however, it is preferable to use a single solvent if this is practicable.) Table 8 contains many of the common pairs of miscible solvents. 

Fig. II, 37, 2 depicts the apparatus for dealing with comparatively small volumes of liquid. The essential feature is the special condenser with a take-off tube. A few small pieces of porous porcelain are introduced and the flask is heated either on a water bath or upon an electric hot plate. The assembly is also useful in the recrystallisation of compounds which dissolve slowly excess of solvent may be employed, and the excess of solvent subsequently removed by distillation.

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