Q.
The most suitable method for separation of
1:1 mixture of ortho and para-nitrophenols is
Solution:
The ortho and para -isomers can be separated by
steam distillation, o-nitrophenol is steam volatile
due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding
(H-bonding in same molecule) while p-isomer,
i.e. p-nitrophenol is less volatile because of
intermolecular hydrogen bonding which cause the
association of molecules.
