Why are we performing each of the following four steps duringthe work-up of the second synthesis (“Hydrogenation of aChalconeâ€)? (What is the purpose of each step?) Please explain.
a) Add 15 mL of brine and 10 mL of ethyl acetate to the mixture.Shake vigorously, then separate the ethyl acetate layer from theaqueous phase. Store the ethyl acetate layer in a dry, cleanErlenmeyer flask.
b) Extract the aqueous phase again with an additional 5 mL ofethyl acetate.
c) Combine the two ethyl acetate solutions and wash this ethylacetate layer with 5 mL of brine. Drain the aqueous phase and pourthe ethyl acetate solution into a clean 25-mL Erlenmeyer flask.
d) Dry the organic phase with anhydrous magnesium sulfate for 5min.
