During an extraction procedure, what issue would occur if NaCl and a drying agent were not sequentially added to the ether layer?

• A. The ether layer would become acidic, causing decomposition of the extracted compound.
• B. The ether layer would form a precipitate, making separation impossible.
• C. The ether layer would evaporate more quickly, reducing the yield of the extracted compound.
• D. The ether layer would retain water, leading to contamination of the extracted compound.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of adding NaCl (brine) during an extraction: NaCl is used to 'salt out' the aqueous layer, which helps to remove water from the organic (ether) layer by reducing the solubility of water in the organic phase.
2. Recognize the role of the drying agent: A drying agent (such as anhydrous MgSO\_4 or Na\_2SO\_4) is added after the brine wash to absorb any residual water that remains dissolved in the ether layer, ensuring the organic layer is as dry as possible.
3. Consider what happens if NaCl is not added first: Without the brine wash, the ether layer will retain more water because the water is not efficiently separated from the organic phase, leading to a higher water content in the ether layer.
4. Consider what happens if the drying agent is not added after the brine wash: Even if some water is removed by the brine, residual water molecules will remain dissolved in the ether layer, which can contaminate the extracted compound and affect purity and yield.
5. Conclude that skipping either step (NaCl addition or drying agent) results in the ether layer retaining water, which leads to contamination of the extracted compound and potentially affects downstream processes such as evaporation or analysis.