Question

In a mixture of kerosene and water, kerosene forms the:
A.Lower layer
B.Upper layer
C.It mixes with water and forms no layer
D.Data insufficient.

Answer 1

Hint: Two miscible liquids form one layer and two immiscible liquids form two layers. Formation of the lower and upper layer depends on density.

Complete step by step answer:
Miscible solutions are those which can mix together and immiscible solutions are those which can’t mix up.
If two solutions are miscible, they can form a single layer. Mixture of two or more immiscible solutions forms separate layers. Water and Kerosene are two immiscible liquids which can’t mix up. So, they will form one upper layer and one lower layer and this depends on the density of the solution.
Two liquids having different density can’t mix up. Density is the ratio of mass and volume.
Density= Mass/ Volume. So, from the equation we can say that as the mass increases density also increases. That is, mass and density are directly proportional.
Water is heavier than kerosene so water will be denser than kerosene. Liquid having lower density will form the upper layer. So here kerosene is less dense so it will form the upper layer.
So, the correct answer is B. i.e. kerosene forms the upper layer.

Note: A phase is a homogeneous part of a system. It is physically distinct and separable from other parts of the system. Miscible liquids form one phase, e.g. Water and ethanol, water and aldehyde etc. Immiscible liquids form more than one phase, e.g. Water and chlorobenzene. Two miscible liquids will form a homogeneous solution. Immiscible liquids do not interact with each other, they can be evaporated independently. Students may be confused with solubility and miscibility. Solubility and miscibility are different. Solubility is the ability of a solid to dissolve in a liquid. Miscibility is related to liquids.