[colinsjohn]

why is ethanol a better recrystallizing agent than water?

  I have been trying to work out exactly why for many week but i cant seem to come up with a clear answer. It is aspirin (2-hydroxybenzoic acid) which is going to be recrystallized

This is what i have came up with so far-I know that water is more polar due to being able to make more hydrogen bonds. Ethanol is less polar as it has a polar -OH group and a non-polar CH3.


Maybe a reason could be that because water is more polar it is held together more strongly so does not therfore react with the impurities are readily as ethanol.

Help would be greatly appreciated.

*Ignore me, I am impatient*-helppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
*Ignore me, I am impatient*

[Yggdrasil]

Please don't post the same topic in multiple forums.