Liquid-liquid extractions primarily rely on which property?

Liquid-liquid extraction primarily relies on the property of solubility. This technique is based on the ability of different compounds to dissolve in different solvents. In liquid-liquid extraction, two immiscible liquids, typically an organic solvent and water, are used. The target compound is preferentially soluble in one of the liquids.

When the two liquids are mixed, the compound will partition between the two phases according to its solubility in each solvent. If the compound has a higher solubility in the organic phase, it will migrate into that layer, allowing for its separation from other components present in the aqueous phase.

While density, viscosity, and boiling point can influence the efficiency and practicality of the extraction process, the fundamental principle driving the separation is the differential solubility of the target compound in the two solvents. Thus, solubility is the key property that governs the effectiveness of liquid-liquid extractions.