Name: Kelden Marie E.

Laguting
Experiment No. 1 Purification of Benzoic Acid

Locker Number: 15A

Date: February 16, 2016

DATA AND RESULTS

Mass of Benzoic Acid (in grams)
Initial mass of crude Benzoic Final mass of purified Benzoic
Acid
Acid
2.00 g

1.05
Table 1. Mass of Benzoic Acid

Table 1 shows the initial mass obtained of crude benzoic acid and the final mass of
purified benzoic acid after recrystallization.
Percent Yield of Acetanilide (in grams)
Theoretical Yield

Actual Yield

Percent Yield

2.00 g

1.05

52.5 %

Table 2. Percent Yield of Benzoic Acid

Table 2 shows the percent yield of pure benzoic acid from the crude sample. It was
obtained using the equation:
Actual Yield( grams)
x 100=Percent Yield ( )
Theoretical Yield ( grams)

Melting Point Determination

Theoretical Melting
Actual Melting
Percent Error
Point
Point
123.9 C 125.4
122.41 C
2.44 %
C
Table 3. Melting point determination

Table 3 shows the percent error in the melting point determination of the benzoic acid
based on the theoretical value of its melting point (122.41 C) and the result (125.4 C). It
was computed using the following equation:
Actual Melting Point (MP)Theoretical MP

x 100=Percent Error
Theoretical MP

DISCUSSION
After the process of crystallization, including gravity filtration and suction filtration,
1.05 grams of benzoic acid crystals were obtained. The melting point range of the pure
benzoic sample obtained in the experiment is given by 123.9C to 125.4 C, which is not far
from the theoretical melting point range 122.1 C. This gives a 2.44 % error that was
probably brought by the impurities left in the crystals.
Crystallization is the process of slowly forming crystals organized in a lattice, usually
used as a technique to remove impurities from a solution due to the slow formation of the
said crystals that enable the impurities to escape from the pure sample. Precipitation on the
other hand is a much faster process and usually contains impurities. This can be attributed to
the fact that they formed without giving the impurities time to separate from the pure
compound. The benzoic acid samples obtained in the laboratory activity were crystals, mainly
because the process to cooling down the dissolved benzoic acid was slower. (Q#1)
Because of the impurities found in the crude sample of benzoic acid, an active ingredient
was added to the sample in the form of decolorizing charcoal. This can remove organic
compounds that contaminate the sample. One must remember though that the amount of
charcoal can affect the percent recovery of the acid. Decolorizing charcoal can absorb the
organic impurities found in the sample. However, it can also absorb the benzoic acid, which
is still an organic compound, and this affects the outcome of the crystallization. Also, the
experimenter noticed that too much charcoal can be left in the sample such that the obtained
product was gray-ish for some other products. (Q#2)
Another factor that could affect the percent recovery is the water used to wash the crystals
during suction filtration. Since crystallization is a concept of very gradual cooling down of a
solution to form crystals, and a deviation on the temperature of the water can either make
crystals or precipitates for that matter or melt the crystals back into aqueous form. It was
given that at 100 C, the solubility of benzoic acid is 6.8g/100mL while at 0 C is
0.17g/100mL. This difference in solubility based on temperature is the reason why one
should use cold water in washing the crystals during suction filtration. If hot water was used
in washing away the impurities left in the surface of the crystals, there is a chance that the hot
water will melt some of the crystals that has formed in the Buchner funnel. (Q#3)
Melting point is a usual measure for the purity of a substance. This is why melting
point determination was done to see if the sample obtained is pure or not. The impurities
found in the crystals could cause an increase in the melting point of the sample because the
impurities are preventing the sample from completely melting at the exact melting point. The
product had a melting point of 125.4 C, and the theoretical value is 122.41 C, giving a
percent error of 2.44%, which was probably caused by the remaining contaminants, and
measurement error committed by the experimenter. (Q#4)
The maximum percent recover is 94.9 % or 1.898 g of benzoic acid. (Q#5) The
remaining 0.848 g lost in the experiment could be attributed to crystals lost in the beakers,
flasks and Buchner funnel. This could also be attributed to the lost liquid when the sample
frothed during the experiment.

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

Percent Yield of Benzoic Acid

Actual Yield
x 100=Percent Yield
Theoretical Yield
1.05 g
x 100=52.50
2.0 g
Percent Error of Benzoic Acid Melting Points

x 100
Theoretical MP
Percent Error=

Actual MPTheoretical MP

x 100=0.175
122.41 C

125.4 C122.41 C

Maximum Theoretical Percent Recovery

Benzoic Acid (?) = 0.102 g of acetanilide that stays in the solution
? g of benzoic acid 0.17 g of benzoic acid
=
60 ml of water
100 ml of water

Maximum amount of benzoic acid that should crystallize = 2.00 g 0.102 g = 1.898 g
MaximumTheoretical Percent Yield=

1.898 g of acetanilide
x 100=94.9
2.0 g of acetanilide

REFERENCES
Yanza, E.S. (November 2014). Survey of Organic Chemistry Laboratory Manual [PDF].
Quezon City, Ateneo de Manila University.