Experiemnt C

Separating a Mixture by Thin Layer Chromatography

Lab Report
Name:

Chui Wai

Student ID:

2012600412

Group Member:
Date of Experiment: 20/03/2014
Samantha Chan

Demonstrator:

Data Sheet
Sketch of Chromatograms

Ethyl
acetate

hexane

methanol

dichlorometh

toluene

Optimal solvent system:

ane

E: toluene
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Reference Materials Analysis

Biphenyl

4-

Benzophen

Phenylphen

one

ol
(M)

(N)

(O)

38

25.5

46.5

46.5

46.5

0.817

0.172

0.548

Compone

Component

Component

nt 1

(if any)

(if any)

(if any)

Distance traveled by sample

(mm)
Distance traveled by solvent
from (mm)
Rf value

Unknown Sample Analysis

Distance traveled by sample

38.5

7.5

25.5

26.5

37

47

47

47

47

47

47

0.14

0.81

0.160

0.543

0.564

0.787

(mm)
Distance traveled by solvent
from (mm)
Rf value

Identity

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Results & Discussion

a) Rank the polarity of reference M O in ascending order.

b) According to the Rf values obtained, explain how the
compound structures affect their Rf in the chosen solvent.
a)

M<O<N

b) The more polar the organic compound is, the smaller the Rf value of
the organic compound.
The silica gel is a polar compound and due to the theory of like
dissolve like, polar compounds tend to interact with polar
compounds. As the chosen solvent is non-polar, therefore the solvent
will not have interaction with silica gel.
M is a symmetrical compound which is non-polar, it is washed up by
the solvent without any attraction from silica gel, and thus it moved
up faster, having a large Rf.
However, N and O are polar compounds. The -OH bond in the
compound give N a high polarity. O is a symmetrical compound but it
has pairs of free electron from oxygen atom which makes O being
polarized.N is a linear structure and O is much bulky than N.
As a result, N has a greater polarity than O. As the solvent moving
up, N experience more attraction from the silica gel than O does and
hence move slower than N and therefore has a smaller Rf.

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For the two visualization methods mentioned in this experiment,

state the limitation (if any) for each of them. Also suggest any
precautions in carrying out these methods.

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1) UV fluorescence.
Not all chemical components are sensitive to the UV light and only the
sensitive one can be visualized. On the other hand, some chemicals are
very sensitive to the UV light and will immediately decomposed when
high energy UV light shined on it. UV light is harmful to the human body
which will cause skin cancer or skin burning.
Therefore, we better wear sun glass or goggles to protect our eyes and
wear gloves to protect out hands which will exposed under the UV light.
Switch off the device once you finished the experiment.

2) Iodine staining
Some chemical components does not react with Iodine and hence no
result will be observed. And iodine vaporized quickly. If the reaction time
between the chemical and iodine is slower than the vaporization speed
of the iodine, the result shown will not be accurate.
Iodine is toxic and cause harmful effect to the human body. So goggle is
needed to protect the eyes and gloves should be wore to avoid direct
contact between the hand skin and iodine. Also such process should
undergo inside a fume cupboard to prevent inhale the iodine vapour.

Predict and explain the effect of increasing the polarity of

solvent on the mobility of organic compounds on silica gel.

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Increase in the polarity of the solvent will increase the mobility of

organic compound on silica gel. Increasing the polarity of the solvent will
reduce the interaction between the silica gel and the organic compounds
thus increasing the mobility.
When a higher polarity solvent is used, the interaction between the silica
gel and the polar organic compounds is significantly reduced or can be
said that is replaced by. Thus higher polarity of solvent will increased
the mobility of organic compounds. For non-polar compounds, it will just
wash up by the solvent without any interaction with the silica gel.

Explain what a mixed solvent system is and state its possible

advantages over single solvent system.

A mixed solvent system is the solvent system with more than one
solvent mixed together with a fixed ratio.
Some compounds has similar solubility in the same solvent but different
solubility in another solvent. By using a mixed solvent system, a better
separation can be obtained.
Thus, a better recognition of components can be done. Also, using a
mixed solvent system, the polarity of solvent can be find tuned to an
appropriate polarity you want.

End

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