Nina Althea G.

Diaz 15B
1 – Recrystallization of Benzoic Acid September 24, 2018

Data and Results

Table 1. Properties and Characteristics of Benzoic Acid
Weight of Appearance Volume of Appearance Weight of Percent Melting
Compound of Crude Filtrate of Yield Recovery Point
Compound (<100 ml) Crystallized
Compound
2.0 g White 50 ml White, 1.2 g 51% Starting:
powder Flaky, 123.0 ºC
Needle-like Ending:
122.9 ºC

Discussion
The process of crystallization was performed and understood by means of executing
the procedures of the activity. Based on the experiment, the difference between crystals and
precipitates were determined. The two may be differentiated based on their appearance and
speed of formation. At the end of the experiment, one may also be able to calculate for the
percent recovery of crystallized benzoic acid and determine the melting point through the use
of the melting point apparatus.

As seen in table 1, the percent recovery of the crystallized benzoic acid is quite low.
This is because the weight of the actual yield was lessened due to the occurrence of frothing
during the boiling process. In order to prevent this mistake, one must make sure to add boiling
chips to the mixture before boiling and always keep an eye on the setup. If these protocols are
executed properly, then the weight of the crystals would increase, as well as the percent
recovery. Moreover, the melting point of the dry crystals resulted to a close value to the actual
melting point of benzoic acid, which is 122.35 ºC [1]. The resulting melting point was a bit
higher by about 0.55 ºC because the starting point inputted in the melting point apparatus was
123.0 ºC, due to the incapability of the machine to recognize values with decimal points.

In performing the experiment, crystals and precipitates were differentiated. Crystals are
slowly formed solid materials that appear to be white and flaky or needle-like, while
precipitates are rapidly formed solids that contain impurities and settle at the bottom of the
solution [2]. Crystals also have less impurities compared to precipitates. In the experiment, the
final product obtained were crystals because the appearance matched the aforementioned
description for crystals (AtQ 1).

An important step in crystallization is the addition of decolorizing charcoal. This step

is essential in removing colored impurities from the solution. Only a small amount of
decolorizing charcoal is added to the solution so that only the contaminations may be removed
and to increase the final yield of the product. A gram of activated charcoal has a high surface
area onto which the impurities will be attached and then removed from the solution [3]. If a
large amount is added, a greater surface area is created and some of the compound may be
adsorbed, resulting to a lessened yield (AtQ 2).
 The next step involves suction filtration. This involves the use of Buchner funnel, flask
and filter paper. The temperature of the water used to wash the crystals during suction filtration
must be low so that the solid crystals would not be destroyed and only impurities may be
removed [4]. Washing the crystals with cold water would also result to an increase in the yield.
On the other hand, if hot water (high temperature) is used to wash the crystals, then this may
result to smaller and deformed final products, lessening the yield (AtQ 3).

Moreover, in determining the melting point of the product, one factors that may affect
the result is the presence of impurities in the crystals, which lowers the melting point [5]. The
crystallized benzoic acid obtained can described as pure because the resulting melting point
was 122.9 ºC. This value is very close to the actual melting point of the compound, as well as
the starting point entered in the apparatus, which are 122.35 ºC and 123.0 ºC respectively (AtQ
4).

Lastly, based on the results in table 1, the final yield was 1.2 g from a 2.0 g pure
compound dissolved in 50 ml of filtrate. This resulted to a percent yield of 51%. If given that
2.0 g benzoic acid is in 80 ml of water, and the solubility of benzoic acid at 0 ºC is 0.017
g/100ml [1], the maximum theoretical percent recovery based on these values will be 99.15%.
This was computed by first subtracting 0.017 g from 2.0 g benzoic acid. This would result to
1.983 g, which will then be used to compute for the percent recovery. This actual value will be
divided by the theoretical value (2.0 g) and will be multiplied by 100%. (AtQ 5).

In conclusion, the objectives for the experiment were met; crystallization was
performed and differentiated from precipitation, while the melting point and percent recovery
were also determined. The percent recovery for the final yield of crystals resulted to a low
value due to errors in the experiment, specifically the frothing of the solution. Based on the
melting point obtained through the use of the apparatus, it can also be said that the the recovered
acetanilide is pure because the resulting value is close with the actual melting point of the
compound. This may also mean that only a few impurities were present in the crystals.

Accidents and Near Misses

In performing the experiment, some errors that occurred include frothing of the solution
being boiled, while some near miss incidents were forgetting to cover the flask with a watch
glass during the cooling of the solution and moving the flask during the crystallization process.
In order to prevent frothing, boiling chips must be added and the solution must always be
monitored by the experimenter. Boiling chips must be added before boiling in order to ensure
even boiling and to prevent the splattering of the solution. In addition, the flask must be covered
at all times to prevent any contamination. One must also refrain from checking and moving the
flask because this may lead to the formation of precipitates instead of crystals. For future
experiments, simple protocols such as covering the solution and not moving it must be strictly
followed so that the experiment will be more successful and a desirable product may be
obtained.

Sample Calculations
Percent Recovery = [(Actual Yield/Theoretical Yield) x 100]
à [(1.2 g/2.0 g) x 100] = 51%
Maximum Percent Recovery
2.0 g – 0.017 = 1.983 g
[(1.983 g/2.0g) x 100] = 99.15%
References
[1] National Center for Biotechnology Information. Pubchem Compound Database; [cited
2018 Sept 23]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[2] Yanza E. Survey of Organic Chemistry Laboratory Manual. Ateneo de Manila University:
Department of Chemistry; 2014.

[3] Recrystallization: Decolorization [Internet]. [cited 2018 Sept 23]

Available from:https://www.mctcteach.org/chemistry/C2224/labman/rc/decolor.htm

[4] Lisa N. Suction Filtration Overview [Internet]. California: MindTouch; [updated 2018
Feb 19; cited 2018 Sept 23]. Available from: https://chem.libretexts.org

[5] Widener R. Melting Point Tips and Guidelines. Idaho: College of Southern Idaho;
[updated 2003 Aug 2; cited 2018 Sept 23][Internet]Available from:
https://quondam.csi.edu/ip/physci/faculty/rex/MPTips.htm