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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: mistertaylor92 on October 28, 2011, 06:25:01 PM

Title: Boiling Point Depression
Post by: mistertaylor92 on October 28, 2011, 06:25:01 PM
In an organic chemistry lab in which t-butyl chloride was synthesized, a boiling point characterization test was used to confirm its formation. The boiling point measured was 10 degrees lower than its accepted value. Nowhere on the internet can I find an explanation for boiling point depression, but I need to explain this phenomenon. Thank you in advance!  :)
Title: Re: Boiling Point Depression
Post by: kalos on October 28, 2011, 09:01:26 PM
At what height above the sea level is the laboratory located?
Title: Re: Boiling Point Depression
Post by: discodermolide on October 29, 2011, 12:45:50 AM
In an organic chemistry lab in which t-butyl chloride was synthesized, a boiling point characterization test was used to confirm its formation. The boiling point measured was 10 degrees lower than its accepted value. Nowhere on the internet can I find an explanation for boiling point depression, but I need to explain this phenomenon. Thank you in advance!  :)

Elevation of Bpt. depression of Mpt. (at sea level)
Title: Re: Boiling Point Depression
Post by: mistertaylor92 on October 29, 2011, 02:39:22 AM
The lab is 190 m above sea level. You guys are telling me this is the reason!? Far beyond what I would expect lol.
Title: Re: Boiling Point Depression
Post by: discodermolide on October 29, 2011, 03:23:52 AM
The lab is 190 m above sea level. You guys are telling me this is the reason!? Far beyond what I would expect lol.

How did you prepare it? Perhaps the conversion was not complete and you distilled an azeotrope with the starting material?
Title: Re: Boiling Point Depression
Post by: orgopete on October 29, 2011, 09:14:51 AM
In an organic chemistry lab in which t-butyl chloride was synthesized, a boiling point characterization test was used to confirm its formation. The boiling point measured was 10 degrees lower than its accepted value. Nowhere on the internet can I find an explanation for boiling point depression, but I need to explain this phenomenon…

This has the sound like a poster's lab result. The language is written so we don't know who did the distilling, "A boiling point characterization test was used to confirm…" If the poster said my temperature was low, then I will add the thermometer positioning can reduce the observed temperature from the literature value (my first choice). We could add that the thermometer was not calibrated, but I would doubt even an uncalibrated thermometer would be that far off, but it could be a degree or two.