Chapter Profile

The content in  this    chapter should  be  relevant    to  about   20% of  all questions   about   Organic

Chemistry   on  the MCAT.   

This    chapter covers  material    from    the following   AAMC    content category:   

5C: Separation  and purification    methods

Introduction

We’ve spent a lot of time discussing how to theoretically get various products from a range of
reagents. However, as we’re sure you’ve learned in your organic chemistry labs, chemistry isn’t as
straightforward in the real world as it is on paper. Much of the time spent in the lab is dedicated to
the isolation and purification of the desired product after the reaction has occurred. Throughout
this chapter, we will discuss several techniques for this. Good news, though—there isn’t a lab