Question:medium
A steam volatile organic compound which is immiscible with water has a boiling point of 250°C. During steam distillation, a mixture of this organic compound and water will boil:
A steam volatile organic compound which is immiscible with water has a boiling point of 250°C. During steam distillation, a mixture of this organic compound and water will boil:
Updated On: Nov 26, 2025
- above 100°C but below 250°C
- above 250°C
- at 250°C
- close to but below 100°C
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Steam distillation of immiscible liquids results in boiling at a temperature below the individual boiling points of the components. This phenomenon arises because the mixture's total vapor pressure, the sum of individual vapor pressures, equals atmospheric pressure at this lower temperature. Organic compounds that are steam volatile and immiscible with water will co-distill with water near 100$^\circ$C. The boiling point is marginally below 100$^\circ$C owing to the organic compound's vapor pressure contributing to the total vapor pressure.
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