In this experiment, a Grignard reagent, phenylmagnesium bromide, reacted with a ketone, acetophenone, to produce 1,1-diphenylethanol. The experimental product was relatively pure as its melting point was determined to be between 78 and 80.7°C. The value from literature suggests that the melting point is between 78 and 82°C (chemspider.com). However, the percent yield for this experiment was not very high, at only 57 percent. The low yield for this lab was most likely due to the low generation of the Grignard intermediate due to exposure to atmospheric water. If the flask was left open for too long, water in the atmosphere would react and instead produce the by-product benzene instead of 1,1-diphenylethanol. Also some product was lost
