Extraction and Distillation (5C) Practice Test

A neutral metabolite M is extracted from 100 mL of water into an immiscible organic solvent with $K = \frac{M{org}}{M{aq}} = 4$. The lab can perform either (i) one extraction with 100 mL organic solvent or (ii) two sequential extractions with 50 mL organic solvent each, combining the organic layers. Based on the partitioning principle, which statement is most consistent with expected recovery of M?

A compound W is distributed between two immiscible phases, with $K = \frac{W{org}}{W{aq}} = 5$. In an extraction, the organic layer volume is much smaller than the aqueous layer volume. Based on partitioning principles, which statement is most consistent with the effect of using a very small organic volume?