Scribd
Upload
94 views2 pages

Caffeine Isolation from Tea Experiment

This document describes an experiment to isolate caffeine from tea through extraction. The objectives are to gain experience using extraction, assemble and use a simple distillation setup, determine the boiling point of a liquid sample, and isolate caffeine from tea. Sodium carbonate is added to the first extraction to keep caffeine in its free base form. Sodium sulfate serves as a drying agent. Chloroform is chosen as the extracting solvent because caffeine is very soluble in it, allowing efficient removal from tea over multiple extractions. Emulsions can form during extraction but are minimized. Removing a stopper allows liquid to drain from a separatory funnel.

Uploaded by

shushar
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
94 views2 pages

Caffeine Isolation from Tea Experiment

This document describes an experiment to isolate caffeine from tea through extraction. The objectives are to gain experience using extraction, assemble and use a simple distillation setup, determine the boiling point of a liquid sample, and isolate caffeine from tea. Sodium carbonate is added to the first extraction to keep caffeine in its free base form. Sodium sulfate serves as a drying agent. Chloroform is chosen as the extracting solvent because caffeine is very soluble in it, allowing efficient removal from tea over multiple extractions. Emulsions can form during extraction but are minimized. Removing a stopper allows liquid to drain from a separatory funnel.

Uploaded by

shushar
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

EXPERIMENT 1

Isolation of Caffeine from Tea

Objectives:
 To gain experience in using extraction as a method of separation.
 To assemble and use a simple distillation setup in the separation of volatile substances from non-
volatile materials.
 To determine the boiling point of a liquid sample.
 To isolate caffeine from tea and gain experience in chemical laboratory manipulation of plant
materials.

Conclusion:

Question & Answers:

A. Discuss briefly the role of the following in the isolation of caffeine:


i. sodium carbonate

Sodium carbonate also a base, and it is added in the first extraction to make sure that the caffeine
remains in the free base form (that is, to prevent it from reacting with any acids that may be present).

If you do not use a base the tannins will also be extracted into the solvent (i.e. methylene chloride) used
in the subsequent extraction . The base converts the tannins into their sodium salts - being ionic these
salts are not soluble in solvents like methylene chloride so remain in the aqueous layer during
extraction. This allows purer caffeine to be extracted.

ii. sodium sulfate

Sodium sulfate serves as a drying agent in most reactions to absorb all excess water from the solution.

A. Give at least three characteristics of chloroform that make it a good extracting solvent for
caffeine.
Chloroform was chosen as the solvent because Caffeine is very soluble in this substance.
Thus, when the separatory funnel is used, the Caffeine in the tea dissolves into the
Chloroform and the rest of the tea can be discarded. This is done three times so that the
amount of Caffeine left in the discarded tea is minimized. This is followed by two
washings with Sodium Hydroxide and one with water. It is believed that the Sodium
Hydroxide weakens the attraction Chloroform has on Caffeine, allowing the Caffeine to be
isolated more easily later on.
B. How efficient is the extraction of tea leaves containing 1.0 g of caffeine with two 30-mL portions
of chloroform over that of a single step extraction (K25ºC = 8.36)?
C. What are emulsions? Why do they form during extractions? How are they minimized?
D. Why is it necessary to remove a stopper from a separatory funnel when liquid is being drained
from it through a stopcock.

You might also like