Steam distillation is applied to those organic compounds which are steam volatile and:

Options

A. soluble in water
B. insoluble in water
C. sparingly soluble in water
D. insoluble in all solvents

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Steam Distillation**:
- Steam distillation is a technique used to separate compounds based on their volatility. It is particularly useful for organic compounds that are sensitive to heat and may decompose at their boiling points.

2. **Characteristics of Compounds for Steam Distillation**:
- The organic compounds suitable for steam distillation must be:
- **Steam Volatile**: This means they can easily vaporize when steam is introduced.
- **Insoluble in Water**: The compounds should not dissolve in water, which allows them to separate effectively during the distillation process.

3. **Reason for Using Steam Distillation**:
- When steam is introduced, it lowers the effective boiling point of the organic compound. This is beneficial because:
- It prevents the compound from reaching its decomposition temperature.
- It allows for the collection of the vaporized compound without damaging it.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, steam distillation is applied to organic compounds that are both steam volatile and insoluble in water.

**Final Answer**: Steam distillation is applied to those organic compounds which are steam volatile and insoluble in water.

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