Question

Steam distillation is used for the extraction of_____________.

• A. Fatty acids
• B. Essential oils
• C. Mineral oils
• D. Higher alkynes

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Essential oils

Explanation for correct option

Option b) Essential oil.

• Steam distillation is used to separate essential oils in which separation occurs with the help of steam.
• In this technique, water is used as one immiscible liquid along with another unknown liquids.
• The basis of steam distillation is the difference in volatilities of two immiscible liquids.
• Essential oils can be separated through steam distillation.

Explanation for incorrect option

Option A: Fatty acids.

• They are separated through Gas Chromatography and HPLC -High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.
• Thus this option is incorrect.

Option C) Mineral Oils

• . These can be separated through Galvimetry.
• Thus the option is incorrect.

Option D) Higher alkynes.

• These can be separated by other techniques since they don't pursue any volatility difference which is the base of steam distillation.
• Thus this option is incorrect.

Hence option B is correct.