MCAT Organic Chemistry Question 175: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 175

10. Simple distillation could be used to separate which of the following compounds?

  • A. Toluene (boiling point of 111°C) and water (boiling point of 100°C)
  • B. Naphthalene (boiling point of 218°C) and butyric acid (boiling point of 163°C)
  • C. Propionaldehyde (boiling point of 50°C) and acetic acid (boiling point of 119°C)
  • D. Benzene (boiling point of 80°C) and isopropyl alcohol (boiling point of 83°C)

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

This is the only option that would be effectively separated by a simple distillation. Choice (B) would require vacuum distillation because the boiling points are over 150°C. In choices (A) and (D), the boiling points are within 25°C of each other and would therefore require fractional distillation in order to be separated.

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