Question

The best method for the separation of naphthalene and benzoic acid from their mixture is ______.

Options

• chromatography

• crystallisation

• distillation

• sublimation

Answer 1

The best method for the separation of naphthalene and benzoic acid from their mixture is sublimation.

Explanation:

Sublimation would be the best method because it is applicable for those organic compounds which pass directly from solid to vapour state on heating and vice versa on cooling. In these compounds naphthalene is volatile and benzoic acid is non-volatile due to the formation of dimers via hydrogen bonding (intermolecular).