Crystals drying
The final traces of solvent are removed by transferring the crystals from the filter paper of the Büchner or Hirsch funnel to a watch-glass or vial. Alternatively, solids may also be transferred to fresh pieces of filter or weighing paper for drying. This is a less desirable option, however, because fibers of paper may contaminate the product when it is ultimately transferred to a container for submission to your instructor. It is good practice to protect the crystals from airborne contaminants by covering them with a piece of filter paper or using loosely inserted cotton or a cork to plug the opening of the vessel containing the solid.
Removing the last traces of solvent from the crystalline product may be accomplished by air- or oven-drying. With the latter option, the temperature of the oven must be below the melting point of the product.
Melting point
The melting point of a solid is defined as the temperature at which the solid and liquid phases are in equilibrium. The time necessary to obtain such an equilibrium value is not practical for organic chemists; therefore, the melting-point range of temperatures between the first sign of melting and the complete melting of the solid is taken. A narrow range indicates high purity of the sample, whereas a broad range usually indicates an impure sample.
To determine a melting-point range, a small sample of the solid in close contact with a thermometer is heated in an oil bath or metal heating block so that the temperature rises at a slow, controlled rate. As the thermal energy imparted to the substance becomes sufficient to overcome the forces holding the crystals together, the substance melts. The rate of heating should be controlled so that the melting range is as narrow as possible. The temperature is recorded when the first melting appears and when the last solid disappears. A sharp melting point is generally accepted to have a range of 1 to 2°C.
Impurities will usually cause the melting-point range to become wider and melting to occur at lower temperatures than that of a pure compound. An impurity dissolved in the substance lowers the vapour pressure of the liquid, causing the solid to melt and restore the equilibrium among the three phases. The amount of lowering will depend on several factors, among which are the molal freezing point lowering constant (Kt), the concentration, and whether the solute is ionic or not. A typical curve for the lowering of the melting point of substance A by added amounts of substance B is shown in Figure 1.