Chapter 7, Problem 9Q

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Equations that describe the extraction and isolation procedure of caffeine should be written.

Concept introduction:

Caffeine is a natural product found in tea leaves and coffee beans. It is a beneficial central nervous system stimulant.

Extraction of natural products like caffeine can be done using the appropriate choice of solvents. There are several techniques for extraction of caffeine. The commonly used method is liquid-liquid extraction that is carried out in the presence of water and dichloromethane as the solvents. The difference in densities of water and dichloromethane allow them to form separate layers in a separatory funnel and thus allows the effective separation and isolation of caffeine.