The question "What is glass funnel?" is incomplete. A separatory funnel is a type of glass funnel. Therefore, a better question is: What is a separatory funnel?
A separatory funnel, also known as a separation funnel or separating funnel, is a piece of laboratory glassware. It is used in liquid-to-liquid extraction to separate components of a liquid mixture into two immiscible solvents (liquids that don't mix) of different densities, such as oil and water. In other words, it helps separate liquids that don't mix well.
Key Features and Use
- Purpose: To separate liquids with different densities that don't mix.
- Application: Liquid-to-liquid extraction.
- How it Works: The mixture is added to the separatory funnel, allowed to settle into distinct layers, and then the layers are drained separately.
Example
Imagine you have a mixture of oil and water. You can use a separatory funnel to separate the oil from the water due to their different densities. The water will settle at the bottom and can be drained out, leaving the oil in the funnel.