Liquid/liquid extraction is a technique typically performed using a separatory funnel where two liquids are insoluble in one another, one in which the product is soluble and one in which any impurities are soluble. In this reaction, the layers were water and ethyl acetate (4 portions) and the layer containing the purified (extracted) product was collected. Additionally, after the organic layers were combined, they were washed with brine (saturated salt water). Brine is typically used to break up any emulsions and extract water. Finally, the solution was dried over sodium sulfate, a drying agent.

 

Zubrick, J. W. The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual: A Student’s Guide to Techniques, 9th ed.; Massachusetts, 2014; pp 128-135.

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chemistry, http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-301-chemistry-laboratory-techniques-january-iap-2012/labs/MIT5_301IAP12_Work_Handout.pdf  (accessed April 4, 2014).