A student has the mixture and acid in the separatory funnel, after shaking and venting the funnel two layers appear. When the student turns open the stopcock to separate the layers, the liquid does not come out. Which of the following is the best explanation as to why the liquid does not come out?
- Liquid coming out of the separatory funnel is a nonspontaneous process.
- The stopper was still on when the separatory funnel was opened causing a vacuum to form making the liquid stay.
- The top layer is too viscous, causing a back-pressure forcing the liquid to stay.
- The bottom layer is too viscous to extract using the separatory funnel.