Work-up

In <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, work-up refers to the series of manipulations required to isolate and <a href="/facts/Chemical_purity/SrYzLEh1">purify</a> the <a href="/facts/Product_(chemistry)/8uCoDUdv">product(s)</a> of a <a href="/facts/Chemical_reaction/GpqWlKrz">chemical reaction</a>. The term is used colloquially to refer to these manipulations, which may include:

<ul><li>deactivating any unreacted <a href="/facts/Reagent/c3GLInCu">reagents</a> by quenching a reaction.</li>
<li>cooling the reaction mixture or adding an <a href="/facts/Antisolvent/fuClr7oa">antisolvent</a> to induce <a href="/facts/Precipitation_(chemistry)/s3BgsLLY">precipitation</a>, and collecting or removing the solids by <a href="/facts/Filtration/x4no9XQy">filtration</a>, <a href="/facts/Decantation/l2G5zjEx">decantation</a>, or <a href="/facts/Centrifugation/q9WkB8T4">centrifugation</a>.</li>
<li>changing the protonation state of the products or impurities by adding an acid or base.</li>
<li>separating the reaction mixture into organic and aqueous layers by <a href="/facts/Liquid-liquid_extraction/qVfck5T1">liquid-liquid extraction</a>.</li>
<li>removal of solvents by <a href="/facts/Evaporation/tgvIlJys">evaporation</a>.</li>
<li>purification by <a href="/facts/Chromatography/2FrvPjNV">chromatography</a>, <a href="/facts/Distillation/plDvUMxn">distillation</a> or <a href="/facts/Recrystallization_(chemistry)/4jYdB7YM">recrystallization</a>.</li></ul>
The work-up steps required for a given chemical reaction may require one or more of these manipulations. Work-up steps are not always explicitly shown in reaction schemes. Written experimental procedures will describe work-up steps but will usually not formally refer to them as a work-up.

Work-up open-in-new

Work-up