[kdog3682]

Compound X is twice as soluble in toluene as it is acetone and is only sparingly soluble in water. Compound Y is soluble in water and acetone, but only sparingly soluble in toluene. You are given a solid mixture of X and Y. How would separate X and Y using liquid-liquid extraction?

Is the answer as simple as it seems and to simply dissolve it in toluene? Or should you dissolve it in a 50 – 50 mix of water and toluene.

I was also thinking, would it be better to dissolve it in napthalene since that's even further from acetone?

Thanks.

[kriggy]

Yes I would dissolve it in toluene, then dissolve in water what cant be dissolved in toluene. You still would have some of the compound X in water part and Y in toluene so you can then wash the water part with toluene and vice versa.
Im not sure about dissolving in naphtalene. Might work, might not.

[PhDoc]

.                       Toluene     Acetone/Water
Compound X            *
Compound Y                              *

If you had compound X in toluene while having compound Y in acetone/water, would you need to separate them?

This "problem" applies to a solid-solid, solid-liquid, or liquid-liquid mixture that can be partitioned between two nearly immiscible phases.

Toluene is miscible with acetone. Acetone is miscible with water. Acetone and water when mixed together experience strong dipole-dipole interactions that cannot be overcome by toluene. Hence if you take your mixture, then dump it into a separatory funnel containing the three solvent system, compound X will be in the upper phase (toluene, d = 0.87) while compound Y will be in the lower phase (acetone-water, d = 0.93 for 1:1 mixture 20C, J. Chem. Eng. 1965, 10(4), 330-334.). Be prepared for a really nasty emulsion with this one. In principle this works, however I wouldn't want to do it in the lab.

When it comes to something like this, it's easier to concentrate on images rather than words. The words sometimes lead to confusion.

[curiouscat]

Why not just add water, filter & then evaporate off water?