Introduction

Crystallization is a useful purification method for most organic compounds that are solids at room temperature. The selection of a proper solvent is the most critical part of the crystallization procedure. The choice of solvent used depends on the compound to be crystallised and may be determined by small scale solubility tests using a range of polar to non polar solvents. Organic solids are usually more soluble in hot solvent than in a comparable volume of cold solvent. The process of crystallization involves dissolution of the solid in an appropriate solvent at elevated temperature and the subsequent reformation of the crystals upon cooling. This way, many impurities will stay in solution and your target compound is purified. However, it is not possible to recover your entire compound following a crystallization. To maximize your yield, it is very important to only use a minimum amount of hot solvent, (http://orgchem.colorado.edu/Technique/Procedures/Crystallization/Crystallization.html, Original content 2013 University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.). By dissolving both impurities and a compound in an appropriate solvent, either the desired compound or impurities can be coaxed out of solution, leaving the other (benzoic acid) behind. It is named for the crystals often formed when the compound precipitates out. Filtration takes an important role in crystallization, is serves to remove dust and insoluble impurities. Gravity filtration is the simplest method of separating a solid from a liquid and is the method of choice when a liquid has to be separated from unwanted solid. The filter paper is usually fluted. This zigzag folding utilises the complete surface area of the paper and so maximises the rate of flow of liquid through the paper. Select a funnel and receiver of a size which is appropriate for the quantity of liquid to be filtered. Vacuum filtration is used primarily to collect a desired solid, for instance, the collection of crystals in a crystallization procedure. Vacuum filtration uses a Buchner funnel and a side-arm flask. Vacuum filtration is faster than gravity filtration, because the solvent or solution and air is forced through the filter paper by the application of reduced pressure. Do not use vacuum filtration to filter a solid from a liquid if it is the liquid that you want, and if the liquid is low boiling. Any solvent which boils at about 125 degrees or lower will boil off under the reduced pressure in the vacuum flask. (http://orgchem.colorado.edu/Technique/Procedures/Filtration/Filtration.html, Original content 2013 University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.)

Objectives
1. To remove solid impurities from a liquid or a solution. 2. To collect a desired solid using recrystallization method.