Question

How would you separate a mixture of benzene and water?

Answer 1

Benzene is a clear, colourless, highly flammable and volatile liquid aromatic hydrocarbon.

• It is found in crude oils and as a by-product of oil refining processes.
• It evaporates into the air very quickly.
• Exposure to benzene causes neurological symptoms and affects the bone marrow causing aplastic anaemia, excessive bleeding and damage to the immune system.
• Benzene is nonpolar and water is highly polar, so if we add benzene into the water, benzene will float on the top of the water with no apparent mixing.
• They can be separated using a separating funnel, where the heavier liquid (water) will form a lower layer and the lighter liquid (benzene) will form the upper layer.