When separating immiscible liquids, a separating funnel (also known as a separatory funnel or decanting funnel) is typically used. This instrument works by allowing the immiscible liquids to settle in layers based on their densities. The denser liquid forms the bottom layer, and the less dense liquid forms the top layer. Then, the stopcock at the bottom of the funnel can be opened to carefully release the bottom liquid separately from the top liquid. The process involves putting the mixture of immiscible liquids into the separating funnel, letting them settle into distinct layers, and then running off each layer into separate containers by controlling the stopcock. This method is commonly used in laboratories to separate organic compounds from aqueous solutions and in various fields such as chemistry, pharmaceuticals, environmental science, and biotechnology for purification and extraction purposes.
