According to Chemguide, Chromatography is a physical method that is used to separate a mixture of chemical substances into its components, which then can be closely analyzed. All forms of chromatography share this same principle. Here, a mobile phase travels through a stationary phase, carrying the components of the mixture with it. It is possible that the mobile phase and the stationary phase have similarities or differences that affect the overall interaction between each other and the analyte. Separation of the individual components is achieved because each component travels at different rates.
Likewise, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a chromatography technique where separation of the components in a mixture occurs on a sheet of glass, …show more content…
The adsorbent is still the same, and the eluent that runs through the column is the same eluent that was used in TLC. The difference is that it yields a greater separation of the components in the mixture and the components in the mixture can be collected in a similar manner as Distillations, where the separated liquid is collected in fractions. In WCC, the eluted molecules are collected. This is because a column is loaded with cotton, the adsorbent, sand, solvent, and the extract and this allows the components of the mixture to travel down the column at different rates due to their polarity. The more polar substance will have a stronger interaction with the adsorbent and stay near the top and move down at a slower rate. The less polar substance has a weaker interaction and is able to separate and move down the column at a faster rate. These components are seen as colorized bands. The silica gel allows for a greater separation as it acts similarly to the theoretical plates found in distillation, with different equilibria occurring from interactions between the components of the mixture and its own structure. Thus, the eluted molecules can be collected in fractions, starting from the least polar components that go down the column at a faster rate and ending with the most
Likewise, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a chromatography technique where separation of the components in a mixture occurs on a sheet of glass, …show more content…
The adsorbent is still the same, and the eluent that runs through the column is the same eluent that was used in TLC. The difference is that it yields a greater separation of the components in the mixture and the components in the mixture can be collected in a similar manner as Distillations, where the separated liquid is collected in fractions. In WCC, the eluted molecules are collected. This is because a column is loaded with cotton, the adsorbent, sand, solvent, and the extract and this allows the components of the mixture to travel down the column at different rates due to their polarity. The more polar substance will have a stronger interaction with the adsorbent and stay near the top and move down at a slower rate. The less polar substance has a weaker interaction and is able to separate and move down the column at a faster rate. These components are seen as colorized bands. The silica gel allows for a greater separation as it acts similarly to the theoretical plates found in distillation, with different equilibria occurring from interactions between the components of the mixture and its own structure. Thus, the eluted molecules can be collected in fractions, starting from the least polar components that go down the column at a faster rate and ending with the most