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Question:

The most suitable method of separation of a 1:1 mixture of ortho and para-nitrophenols is:

crystallisation

chromatography

steam distillation

sublimation

Solution:

Ortho and para-nitrophenols are separated by steam distillation because ortho-nitrophenol is steam volatile while para-nitrophenol is not. As there are intramolecular H-bonds in ortho-nitrophenol.