Uploaded July 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Isopropyl alcohol is miscible with water - it dissolves in water to produce a colourless solution.
However, salt (NaCl) is an ionic compound that dissolves much better in water than in the organic isopropyl alcohol. When salt is added, most of it remains in the aqueous phase. The water molecules hydrate the Na+ and Cl- ions and are now unavailable to hydrate the alcohol molecules.
The denser salt solution sinks and the alcohol floats, resulting in a phase separation. This is a separation technique known as "salting out", used commonly in organic chemistry and biochemical studies.
Isopropyl alcohol is miscible with water - it dissolves in water to produce a colourless solution.
However, salt (NaCl) is an ionic compound that dissolves much better in water than in the organic isopropyl alcohol. When salt is added, most of it remains in the aqueous phase. The water molecules hydrate the Na+ and Cl- ions and are now unavailable to hydrate the alcohol molecules.
The denser salt solution sinks and the alcohol floats, resulting in a phase separation. This is a separation technique known as "salting out", used commonly in organic chemistry and biochemical studies.
![Lunar Observation [1st Attempt]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nXjUjmuYJq4/mqdefault.jpg "Lunar Observation [1st Attempt]
Sunday 25 October 22:45PM @ Jurong West Street 61, Singapore
My very first lunar observation made with a home-made astro-camera!")
