Thin Layer Chromatography Lab Report

Hello student! In order to solve your problem, it is important to first understand how thin layer chromatography works. Thin Layer Chromatography is a way in which we can separate components of mixtures and identify qualities about their chemical nature. The TLC plate is made of a silica gel which plays an integral role in the distance the different samples will travel, which we will discuss later. For now, it is important to know that Silica gel is very polar. The solvent, which is what you are placing the TLC plate in, is also very important in determining the distance the spots will travel. The different properties of the mixtures, especially polarity, determine how far the spot will travel once placed in the solvent and this is what allows

The only difference between the two is that 4-phenylphenol has an OH bonded to one of the carbon rings. This makes 4-phenylphenol the more polar compound due to the electronegativity of the oxygen. Intermolecular forces such as hydrogen bonds and dipole–dipole interaction can aid in explaining the polarity difference. The dipole-dipole interaction that occurs happens due to the electronegativity difference between Oxygen and Hydrogen and creates partial charges on the atoms, aiding in attracting electrons. Hydrogen bonds can occur when a hydrogen atom interacts with a Nitrogen, Oxygen, or Fluorine of another molecule, and this interaction is one of the strongest intermolecular forces. Because these hydrogen bonds can occur the 4-phenylphenol will form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with the silica gel and therefore not move as far on the TLC plate. When looking at compound C we know understand that biphenyl would travel further than the more polar 4 –phenyl phenol. Understanding this, we would predict that compound B is the 4-phenylphenol and that the lower spot in C is 4-phenylphenol and the higher spot is biphenyl, since it will travel