Is this organic layer at the bottom? or at the top? And is benzoic acid aqueous layer or organic layer?

The organic layer is at the bottom. Benzoic acid is an organic layer. Organic molecules are composed of atoms that are joined together by covalent bonds. In an aqueous solution, water molecules are able to dissolve many organic molecules. The water molecules surround the organic molecules and attach to them through hydrogen bonds. This allows the organic molecules to move around freely in the water. When an organic molecule is insoluble in water, it will form an organic layer at the bottom of the container.

Step-by-step explanation

• The organic layer at the bottom is most likely composed of solvents and organic molecules. The aqueous layer at the top is most likely composed of water and inorganic molecules. Benzoic acid is an organic molecule and would be found in the organic layer.
• When two liquids are mixed, the different molecules will distribute themselves between the two layers in a way that minimizes the energy of the system. This is called the distribution law of liquids. In general, the more polar a molecule is, the more it will favor the aqueous layer.
• The less polar a molecule is, the more it will favor the organic layer.Benzoic acid is a polar molecule and will favor the aqueous layer. This is why it is found in the aqueous layer and not the organic layer.
• Extraction is a process used to separate a desired chemical substance from a complex mixture. Extraction of benzoic acid from an aqueous solution using methylene chloride was done in lab. The chemical constituents of the mixture were separated through the differences in physical and chemical properties of each substance. The organic layer contains methylene chloride and benzoic acid, while the aqueous layer has sodium bicarbonate, excess water from methylene chloride, and impurities like phenolphthalein and NaOH. The organic layer is separated from the aqueous layer because it is less dense than water (specific gravity = 0.87). Benzoic acid should be found in the organic layer because it is less soluble in methylene chloride.