A simple and straightforward sublimation laboratory experiment for the purification of an unknown is presented. This introductory laboratory experiment involves a micro-scale sublimation process. Students purify an unknown from a mixture, determine the identity of their compound with IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, and comment on the purity of the final sample. The use of unknowns increases students’ individual responsibility and prevents using a partner’s data analysis.
Graham et al. (Sat,) studied this question.