Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Recrystallizing using impure solvent

cnidocyte - 29-7-2010 at 03:31

I don't have a distillation kit to purify solvents with but in the case of solvents like methylated spirit (95% ethanol I believe), it would still work fine as a recrystallization solvent wouldn't it?

[Edited on 29-7-2010 by cnidocyte]

E-tech - 31-7-2010 at 16:40

it depends on what you are trying to re-crystallize.
Sometimes crystals won't form- only an oily layer will appear.
Sometimes whatever forms will be more sensitive to, say, detonation, than normal.......

smuv - 1-8-2010 at 00:42

For almost all situations, methylated spirit will work fine. Before using it, check to make sure it evaporates without leaving any residue. If it leaves residue, distill it, or use another brand of methylated spirit (everything I have encountered commercially evaporates w/o leaving residue).