Chromatographic Technique Essay

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Analysis of two analytes using Thin-layer chromatography Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a simple, suitable and not an expensive type of chromatography technique used to determine the number of components in a mixture, test the purity of compounds, separate the mixture from their compounds as compounds are absorbed in different degree levels and differ in terms of solubility. TLC consists of a stationary phase coated by silica gel and attached on a glass or a plastic plate and an organic solvent, the sample is then placed on the stationary phase as spots using capillary tube, the sample can either be liquid or liquefied in volatile solvent. Silica gel is a type of silica. The atoms of the silica are attached to oxygen atoms through covalent structure. The silicon atoms are connected to –OH groups on the outside of the silica gel. Si-O-H bonds appear on the outside of the gel instead of Si-O-Si. The outside of the silica gel is extremely polar therefore hydrogen bonds with the right compounds are formed. Structure 1 Shows the structure of silica (Silicone dioxide) OH OH OH O – Si – O- Si – O – Si – O O O O SILICA STRUCTURE The components of a sample can be identified when run with the unknown sample at the same time. The base ends of the glass, plastic plate is placed in the solvent tank (mobile phase) and the solvents start to move up by capillary actions. Once the solvent front has reached the top point of the stationary phase plate with the deposited substance, the plate is then removed from the solvent tank and the plate is run through ultraviolet light to mark the spots that separated before the stationary phase dries up. The acquired results would be to have the samples moved up the plate at

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