What is the purpose of using ethyl alcohol when extracting pigments?

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What is the purpose of using ethyl alcohol when extracting pigments?

2007-03-21 06:18:58 · 2 answers · asked by cleesurrey 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany

2 answers

It is used as a solvent for the pigments i.e to dissolve out the pigment. The result is a solution of the pigment in ethanol.

2007-03-21 06:23:54 · answer #1 · answered by brisko389 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Many plant pigments have long hydrocarbon regions which makes them fairly non-polar. Since water is a very polar solvent, it will not dissolve many of these pigments very well. Ethyl alcohol is less polar than water and is better able to dissolve the pigments.

2007-03-21 06:32:13 · answer #2 · answered by Yggdrasil 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋