Steam Distillation of o- and p-Nitrophenol and Hydrogen Bonding Traps

How does the lab separate o-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenol? The answer sits in their hydrogen bonds and a steam distillation set-up.

The steam distillation set-up step by step, why vapour pressures add up, the resonance-assisted hydrogen bond, the IR/NMR dilution test and the acidity trap with salicylic acid.

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In this video

• 0:00Separating the isomers
• 0:18The steam distillation set-up
• 0:51Where each isomer goes
• 1:09Why steam distillation works
• 1:40Going further: resonance-assisted H-bond
• 2:11The dilution test (IR / NMR)
• 2:42Trap: chelation and acidity
• 3:23Three quick checks