Chapter 29 - Analytical techniques Flashcards
what is the purpose of chromatography and what do all types have
“Chromatography is used to separate individual components from a mixture of substances”
All forms have:
- a stationary phase- usually a solid or liquid supported by a solid, the stationary phase does not move
- a mobile phase - usually a gas or liquid, the mobile phase does move
state the advantages and disadvantages to TLC
advantages:
- quick, inexpensive
- indicates number of components
disadvantages
- can be difficult to identify substances
- sometimes not full seperation
explain how TLC works
it uses a TLC plate
- made of glass or plastic and coated in a silica (or adsorbant surface)
- the silica is the stationary phase
different components have different attractions for the adsorbant
so they bind differently to it and seperate out
explain the method for TLC
1) take TLC plate, draw a line 1cm from the bottom in pencil
2) use a capiliary tube, spot the sample onto the line
3) prepare chromatography tank (beaker with watch glass on)
4) fill to 0.5cm with solvent (usually ethanol)
5) put in TLC plate
6) allow solvent to rise to about 1cm from top then remove and mark the solvent front immediately
7) mark any visible spots and let dry
what do we use to analyse TLC and how can we use these values
Rf values can be measured and compared to standard values
Rf = distance moved by component/distance moved by solvent front
they should never be >1
when do we tend to use gas chromatography and what are the stationary and mobile phases
- we tend to use it for complex mixtures
- mobile phase = inert gas
- stationary phase = adsorbed liquid (high bpt)
how does gas chromatography work
- a small amount of a sample is injected, it is vaporised and carried through the long column using a carrier gas (inert)
- the column contains the stationary phase, a high bpt liquid
- the sample will repeatedly dissolve into the stationary phase and evaporate out into the mobile phase
- depending on their solubility, their retention time values are different
- the higher the retention time, the greater the solubility
what are the advantages and disadvantages of gas chromatography
advantages:
- it has better seperation than other techniques
- only very small samples are required
disadvantages:
- can only be used where the substance is volatile
- doesn’t work well with biological substances
- if there are small amounts of a substance with the same retention time as another, they can be hidden
how can we analyse the results of gas chromatography
- if a component is more soluble, it will have a greater retention time
- these can be compared to known retention times to identify substances
- the area under the curve produced by the detector is directly proportional to the concentration of the substance (peak integration)
how do calibration curves work and how can we make them
1) prepare standard solutions of different concentrations
2) get gas chromatograms of each
3) plot a calibration curve of relative peak area (on Y) against concentration (on X)
4) this can then be used in reverse, peak integration area –> true concentration
what is the test for an alkene
- add bromine water
- if the bromine water is decolourised, there is a C=C bond present
- orange to colourless
what is the test for a haloalkane
- add ethanol and silver nitrate and heat to 50 degrees
- if a white, cream, or yellow precipitate is formed then a haloalkane is present
what is the test carbonyl
add 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine
if an orange precipitate forms, a carbonyl group is present
what is the test for an aldehyde
add Tollens’ reagent and warm
if a silver mirror is produced, an aldehyde group is present
what is the test for primary and secondary alcohols, and aldehydes
add acidified potassium dichromate and heat
they will turn orange to green if the groups are present
what is the test for carboxylic acids
- add aqueous Na2CO3
- if CO2 is formed then it was a carboxylic acid