(b) Reaction Workup
To the test tube add 10 mL of acetone and a stir bar. Using a ring stand and clamp, place the
test tube over a magnetic stir plate and stir the solution for 5 to 10 minutes. The solution should turn
yellow as the crude fluorescein dissolves. If the entire product did not dissolve, repeat the process with
an additional 5 mL of acetone until the entire product dissolves (do not use more than 25 mL total).
Combine the acetone layers in a 50 mL beaker.
Boil off the acetone leaving a crude orange residue. Take this crude residue and dissolve it in 30
mL of diethyl ether and 1.5 mL of water. (Note: Even though most of the dye will end up in the organic
layer it will not dissolve unless a small amount of water is present.) Place a stir bar in the solution and
put the beaker over a magnetic stir plate for several minutes until all the solids dissolve. Transfer this
organic solution in a separatory funnel and add 15 mL water for washing. Discard the aqueous wash.
Following this, extract the ether layer once with 10 mL of a saturated NaCl solution.
Dry the organic layer over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Pre-weigh a small beaker. Place the dried
organic solution in the beaker and evaporate it to dryness in a water bath to yield the product as an
orange solid.