Which term describes the process of using raw plant materials with additives to refine a finished product?

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

Answer: (A)

Extraction is the process of pulling desired chemicals out of plant material by dissolving them in a solvent or using additives that help release them. The solvent carries the target compounds out of the solid plant matrix, producing a liquid extract that can be refined further. This differs from distillation, which separates components by boiling points; fermentation, which uses microorganisms to transform substances; and purification, which aims to remove impurities rather than extract compounds from the plant material. An example is using alcohol to dissolve and transfer plant constituents into a tincture.