What is it called when raw plant materials are used with chemical additives to refine the finished product?

• A. Fermentation
• B. Distillation
• C. Extraction
• D. Purification

Answer: (C)

Extraction is the process of pulling out desired compounds from plant material by using a solvent (a chemical additive) that dissolves those compounds while the rest of the material remains behind. This approach leverages differences in solubility: the target constituents go into the liquid phase, and then the liquid is separated from the solid. After the solvent is removed, you’re left with a more refined product that concentrates the compounds of interest.

This differs from fermentation, which relies on microorganisms to chemically transform substances; and from distillation, which relies on separating components by differences in boiling points after heating. It also isn’t just a broad purification step, which can refer to removing impurities in many contexts without specifying the solvent-based extraction from plant material. In practice, solvent extraction is a common way to obtain oils, flavors, or active constituents from plants.