Which property of water makes it especially suitable for use in steam distillation?

• A. It has a high boiling point, allowing for efficient separation of volatile compounds.
• B. It forms azeotropes with many organic compounds, lowering their effective boiling points.
• C. It is chemically inert and does not react with most organic substances.
• D. It is highly viscous, which helps in the condensation of vapors.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the principle of steam distillation: it is a technique used to separate temperature-sensitive compounds by co-distilling them with water, allowing the mixture to boil at a temperature lower than the boiling points of the individual components.
2. Recognize that water's key property in steam distillation is its ability to form azeotropes with many organic compounds. An azeotrope is a mixture of two or more liquids that boils at a constant temperature and behaves like a single substance during distillation.
3. Because water forms azeotropes with organic compounds, the effective boiling point of the mixture is lowered compared to the boiling points of the pure substances, enabling the distillation of compounds that would otherwise decompose at higher temperatures.
4. Note that while water does have a high boiling point (100°C), this alone does not explain its suitability for steam distillation, since the goal is to distill compounds at lower temperatures.
5. Also, consider that water's chemical inertness and viscosity are not the primary reasons for its use in steam distillation; the critical factor is the formation of azeotropes that lower boiling points and facilitate separation.