The fragrance of flowers is due to the presence of some steam volatile organic compounds called essential oils. These are generally insoluble in water at room temperature but are miscible with water vapour in vapour phase. A suitable method for the extraction of these oils from the flowers is -
- distillation
- steam distillation
- distillation under reduced pressure
- crystallisation
Answer
(2) steam distillation
Solution
Steam distillation is used for a substance that is steam volatile and immiscible with water.
∵ The mixture boils when poil + pwater = patm ⇒ the oil distils below 373 K, without decomposing
(1): simple distillation needs the b.p. of the oil ⇒ oil may decompose ⇒ (1) is not suitable
(2): oil is steam volatile + water immiscible ⇒ (2) is suitable
(3): used for liquids that decompose at their b.p. (e.g. glycerol), not steam-volatile oils ⇒ (3) is not the best method
(4): crystallisation purifies solids ⇒ (4) is not suitable
Answer: (2)