Table of Contents
What is Thin Layer Chromatography?
Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a chromatographic technique used to separate mixtures of compounds. It is a form of column chromatography, but the column is only a few millimeters thick and the compounds are separated by their relative migration rate through a stationary phase of a thin layer of adsorbent. TLC can be used to identify compounds, to determine the purity of a sample, and to follow the course of a reaction.
Components Required
- TLC plates
- solvent
- sample
- adsorbent (such as silica gel or alumina)
- proprietary TLC spray reagent (optional)
Procedure
1. Place a small amount of adsorbent on a TLC plate.
2. Add the sample to the plate.
3. Add solvent.
4. Place the plate in a closed container and shake gently.
5. Remove the plate and allow it to dry.
6. Spray the plate with a proprietary TLC spray reagent, if desired.
7. Compare the Rf values of the spots on the plate.
Thin Layer Chromatography Principle
Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a chromatography technique used to separate mixtures of compounds. A thin layer of stationary phase is coated on a glass or plastic plate. The plate is then dipped into a sample mixture and the compounds separate as they move along the plate. The distance each compound travels is dependent on its size, polarity, and how strongly it interacts with the stationary phase. The compounds are then visualized using a UV lamp or by spraying the plate with a chemical that changes color when it comes in contact with a compound.
Thin Layer Chromatography Diagram
Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a chromatography technique used to separate chemical compounds. The technique uses a thin layer of adsorbent material saturated with the sample compound. A solvent is then applied to the layer, causing the sample to migrate across the layer. The different compounds in the sample will then travel at different speeds, allowing them to be separated. The technique can be used to identify the compounds in a sample, as well as their relative abundance.
TLC Plates
- TLC plates are thin pieces of glass or plastic that are coated with a special chemical that helps bind substances together. They are used in a process called thin layer chromatography, which is used to separate different substances from each other.
- The process of using TLC plates to separate substances begins by placing a small amount of each substance to be separated on the plate. Next, a solvent is applied to the plate. The solvent will travel up the plate and spread the substances out. The different substances will then begin to move at different speeds, based on how attracted they are to the solvent.
- The plate is then placed in a special instrument called a spectrophotometer. This instrument is used to measure how much light is being reflected off of the plate. This measurement can be used to determine how much of each substance is on the plate.
TLC Chamber
The TLC Chamber is a chamber in the TLC. It debuted in the episode “The Lost City of Atlantis”.
Description
The chamber is a large, circular room with a high ceiling. There are several pillars in the room, and a large, circular pool in the center. The pool is filled with a purple liquid, and a large, purple crystal is suspended above it.
Mobile Phase
The mobile phase is a solvent in which the analyte is dissolved. The mobile phase flows through the column and carries the analyte with it.
A Filter Paper
A filter paper is a piece of paper that is used to filter out unwanted substances from a liquid or gas. The paper is placed in a funnel or filter holder, and the liquid or gas is poured through the paper. The unwanted substances are trapped in the paper, while the desired substances pass through.
Thin Layer Chromatography Theory
- Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a technique used to separate and identify the compounds in a mixture. A mixture is placed on a thin layer of adsorbent material, such as silica gel, and the compounds in the mixture are then separated by their relative affinities for the adsorbent. The compounds are then visualized using a variety of methods, such as UV light or staining with a chemical reagent.
- The theory behind TLC is that different compounds will adsorb to the adsorbent material at different rates. The most strongly adsorbed compounds will be the first to move from the starting point on the adsorbent to the end of the plate. The less strongly adsorbed compounds will be the last to move. By observing the order in which the compounds move from the starting point to the end of the plate, it is possible to identify and separate the compounds in the mixture.
Thin Layer Chromatography Procedure
- The thin layer chromatography procedure is a simple way to separate and identify substances in a mixture. Thin layer chromatography is a type of chromatography that uses a thin layer of adsorbent material, such as silica gel, alumina, or cellulose, to separate dissolved substances.
- In this procedure, a small sample of the mixture is placed on a piece of glass or aluminum foil. The adsorbent material is then placed on top of the sample. The mixture is then dissolved in a solvent, such as water or alcohol. The solvent is then poured over the adsorbent material.
- The solvent will travel up the adsorbent material, leaving the substances in the mixture behind. The distance that the solvent travels will depend on the size, shape, and weight of the substances in the mixture.
- The substances can then be identified by comparing the distance that the solvent traveled with the distance that a standard substance traveled.
Applications
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Disadvantages
1. Low accuracy
2. Low throughput
3. High power consumption
