Question 1.
An environmental scientist isolates a pollutant (compound X)from a factory’s effluent stream and dissolves it in water.Experiments are then conducted using liquid – liquid extraction tooptimize its extraction. Using diethyl ether as the extractingphase, the following distribution ratios, D, are calculated as afunction of pH:
pH | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
D | 0.008 | 0.8 | 39 | 76 | 75 | 76 |
- Does compound X appear to have acidic functional groups, basicfunctional groups or both types of groups? Explain youranswer.
- The distribution coefficient, KD, at pH 12 is 76.3.Calculate the Ka value for compound X.
- The scientist performed multiple extractions of the pollutantfrom 10 mL of water at pH 6 using a total volume of diethyl etherof 100 mL. What mass of compound X will remain in the aqueous phaseafter 4 consecutive  extractions if the initialconcentration of the pollutant was 0.1 M.
(Note: molar mass of compound X = 76g/mol)
