Column Chromatography
In column chromatography using silica gel as stationary phase, the compound that is least polar among a mixture will generally:
Select the correct option:
Solution
Elute first with a non-polar mobile phase
Silica gel is polar, so more polar compounds are retained more strongly through adsorption interactions. Less polar compounds interact weakly and move faster with the mobile phase, so they elute earlier. Thus, least polar component generally appears in early fractions.
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- purification and characterisation of organic compounds
- Topic
- column chromatography
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Elute first with a non-polar mobile phase
Silica gel is polar, so more polar compounds are retained more strongly through adsorption interactions. Less polar compounds interact weakly and move faster with the mobile phase, so they elute earlier. Thus, least polar component generally appears in early fractions.
This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter purification and characterisation of organic compounds, covering the topic of column chromatography. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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