Salting Out: Making Liquids Immiscible
Description: Potassium carbonate added to a solution of methanol in water produces two liquid phases.
Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry
Year: 1989 Vol: 3 Page: 266
Rating: 
Keywords: Salting out, Phase separation, Methanol, Water
Hazard: Some
- Flammability hazard
- Acute toxicity hazard – oral, dermal, inhalation
- Serious eye damage hazard
- Specific organ toxicity single exposure – eyes,
Effectiveness: Good
- Low failure rate
- Results are observable without guidance
- Time to results is medium
- Some connection from demo to course material
- Mild effects are seen by audience
Difficulty: Low
- Does not involve deep attention
- Manipulations are simple for most to perform
- Simple procedures
- Demos in which a display is used
Safety Precautions:
- Absorbent materials on hand
- Eye protection required
- Gloves are required
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Use UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- Perform in a well-ventilated area
Class: Properties of Solutions, Equilibrium of Chemical Systems, Solubility
Division: General, Physical Chemistry
Home| General Chemistry Demos| Physical Chemistry Demos