Uncle Advice

Just before I go on to the separatory funnel, I d like to comment on a few 

How come I got three layers Sometimes, when you pour fresh water or some other solvent into the funnel, you get a small amount hanging at the top, and it looks like there are three different layers. Yes, it looks as if there are three different layers, but there are not three different layers. Only two layers, where part of one has lost its way. Usually, this mysterious third layer looks just like its parent, and you might gently swirl the funnel and its contents to reunite the family. 

What s the density of sodium hydroxide You ve just done a wash with 5-10% sodium hydroxide solution, you ve just read something about finding various layers in the funnel by their densities, and, by this question, you ve just shown that you ve missed the point. Most wash solutions are 5 to 10% active ingredient dissolved in water. This means they are 90 to 95% water. Looking up the density of the solid reagents then, is a waste of time. The density of these solutions is very close to that of water. (10% NaOH has a specific gravity of 1.1089.) 

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Never-Ever Land Starting An Extraction Dutch Uncle Advice The Separatory Funnel... 

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