The fragrance of flowers is due to the presence of some steamm volatile organic compounds called essential oils. These are generally insoluble in water at room temperature but are miscible with water vapour in vapour phase. A suitable method for the extraction of these oils from the flowers is

Options

A. distillation
B. crystallisation
C. distillation under reduced pressure
D. steam distillation

Explanation

To extract essential oils from flowers, the most suitable method is steam distillation. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of the process:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Essential Oils**:
- Essential oils are steam volatile organic compounds responsible for the fragrance of flowers. They are generally insoluble in water at room temperature but can mix with water vapor in the vapor phase.

**Hint**: Remember that essential oils are volatile and can evaporate when heated.

2. **Identifying the Extraction Method**:
- Since essential oils are not soluble in water but can mix with water vapor, a method that utilizes steam is appropriate for extraction.

**Hint**: Think about methods that involve heating and vaporization.

3. **Using Steam Distillation**:
- Steam distillation is a technique used to extract essential oils. In this method, steam is passed through the plant material (flowers), causing the essential oils to evaporate along with the steam.

**Hint**: Recall that steam distillation allows for the separation of compounds at lower temperatures than their boiling points.

4. **Collecting the Vapor**:
- The steam carrying the essential oils is then condensed back into liquid form. The essential oils can be separated from the water because they are typically less dense and will float on top.

**Hint**: Consider how condensation works in separating different components.

5. **Final Separation**:
- After condensation, the mixture of water and essential oil can be collected, and the essential oil can be separated for use.

**Hint**: Think about how you would physically separate two liquids that do not mix well.

### Conclusion:
The most suitable method for the extraction of essential oils from flowers is **steam distillation**. This method effectively utilizes the properties of essential oils being volatile and miscible with water vapor, allowing for efficient extraction without damaging the delicate compounds.