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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Frater EIE on November 13, 2019, 01:29:09 PM

Title: oil from potassium carbonate?
Post by: Frater EIE on November 13, 2019, 01:29:09 PM

Hi all
A while ago, I was using lab grade potassium carbonate to dry some 180 proof ethanol. I had maybe about a cup of pot carb sitting in a mason jar filled with spirit and left it sitting for a while. What was strange was that the ethanol appeared to start pulling an oil from the pot carb. The alcohol turned pale yellow. I decided to leave it a bit longer and it turned orange. After distilling off the alcohol, I discarded the oil, but I'm curious now. Anyone know what that could have been?
Thanks
Frater EIE

Title: Re: oil from potassium carbonate?
Post by: hypervalent_iodine on November 13, 2019, 07:22:09 PM

Are you sure it wasn't something from the mason jar?

Title: Re: oil from potassium carbonate?
Post by: Frater EIE on November 13, 2019, 07:38:56 PM

Hard to know for sure, as it was a while ago. But I think I remember the jar being cleaned with distilled water and then dried with a paper towel.

Title: Re: oil from potassium carbonate?
Post by: billnotgatez on November 14, 2019, 03:56:57 PM

What was the source of your ethanol.
Was it lab grade also.