Question

Assertion :Essential oils are volatile and are insoluble in $H_{2}O$. Reason: Essential oils are purified by steam distillation.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion
• C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
• D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect

Answer 1

The correct option is A Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion

Steam distillation is a special type of distillation (a separation process) for temperature-sensitive materials like natural aromatic compounds. It once was a popular laboratory method for the purification of organic compounds.
Steam distillation is employed in the isolation of essential oils, for use in perfumes.
In this method, steam is passed through the plant material containing the desired oils. Eucalyptus oil and orange oil are obtained by this method on the industrial scale.
Steam distillation is used to separate volatile compounds that are insoluble in $H_{2}O$.

Both assertion and reason are correct and reason explains the assertion properly. Hence the correct option is A.