[Atarijedi]

Greetings folks!

I have a question, if I was to dissolve a bunch of polar and nonpolar compounds into some ethanol, then pour that mixture into a container with 2x as much water, and then add a bunch of table salt (sodium chloride). Would the ethanol and nonpolar compounds be forced out and form a layer that would float on top of the water and polar compounds? or would the entire polar+nonpolar+ethanol mixture float on top?

I came up with this idea based on breaking emulsions, and wondered if it would work the same for dissolved compounds in ethanol.

[gvic]

I'm not sure if adding a lot of NaCl will be effective in seperating the ethanol and water into separate layers. However assuming the water and ethanol formed separate layers you are correct to assume that the more polar compounds will be extracted into aqueous layer while nonpolar compounds will remain dissolved in ethanol organic layer.  This process called extraction is useful for seperating impurities from your desired product based on polarity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid-liquid_extraction

[g-bones]

methanol and water will not form two layers, even with sodium chloride.  Although when you do get emulsions and extracting with things like ether or ethyl acetate form emulsions adding saturated NaCl solution does help to increase the difference in density and will often help to visualize two layers. 

[AC Prabakar]

Greetings folks!

I have a question, if I was to dissolve a bunch of polar and nonpolar compounds into some ethanol, then pour that mixture into a container with 2x as much water, and then add a bunch of table salt (sodium chloride). Would the ethanol and nonpolar compounds be forced out and form a layer that would float on top of the water and polar compounds? or would the entire polar+nonpolar+ethanol mixture float on top?

I came up with this idea based on breaking emulsions, and wondered if it would work the same for dissolved compounds in ethanol.

This idea may not be possible.But, to the alcohol solution we can add water and extraction of compound with different polar/nonpolar solvents(which will form biphasic layers)may workout for the separation of polar/nonpolar compounds!!!!