IMAGE. Separatory funnel supported in a ring stand.
A separatory funnel is useful for performing extractions. Extraction is one way of purifying a substance. In an extraction, a solute is transferred from one solvent to another. One type of extraction involves removing polar solutes from an organic solvent that is immiscible in an aqueous solution. The organic solution and the aqueous solution are added to the separatory funnel, shaken, and allowed to separate into layers. The polar molecules preferentially dissolve
in the aqueous solution, and because the organic solvent and the aqueous solution are immiscible, the aqueous layer may be separated from the organic layer. By this process, a polar compound can be isolated from impurities, which remain in the organic layer.
