Question: A student spots an unknown sample on a TLC plate and develops it in dichloromethane solvent. Only one spot, for which the Rf value is 0.95, is observed. Does this indicate that the unknown material is a pure compound? What can be done to verify the purity of the sample using TLC?

My answer: A single substance gives a single spot no matter which solvent is used to develop the plate. However, it might be necessary to try a number of solvents to separate the components and determine how many there are in a mixture. When dealing with compounds of similar properties, such as isomers, multiple developments of the TLC plate may be necessary to determine purity.

Does this look okay?

Thanks from Sheryl

test

My original responses did not post so I had to try the test.
For you question, you don't say anything wrong but I think the second sentence is likely to be confusing the first. Also, you don't answer the question. I would start with "No." Then leave sentence 1 as is. Make the second one something like this. "However, in mixtures, it may be possible to have a single spot if the appropriate solvent to separate the components of the mixture is not used." Then go on with the rest of what you wrote editing here and there to make it fit with the above.

There are 2 questions asked. The first is: whether the single spot indicates the purity of the compound. Does this sound okay:

A single spot does not necessarily indicate the purity of the compound. A single substance gives a single spot no matter which solvent is used to develop the plate. However, in mixtures, it may be possible to have a single spot if the appropriate solvent to separate the components of the mixture is not used.

And for the second part:
When dealing with compounds of similar properties, such as isomers, multiple developments of the TLC plate with a fairly nonpolar solvent may be necessary to effectively separate compounds and so to determine purity.

Is this okay?

Sheryl

It sounds ok to me. One final suggestion is to separate question 1 and follow with your answer. Then do question 2 and follow with your answers. That will minimize (to essentially zero) the possibility of the teacher confusing the two answers.

@ Johnny: TLC stands for thin layer chromatography. TLC is used for monitoring the process of a reaction, identifying compounds, and determining the purity of a substance. When conducting an experiment on TLC, you can determine the purity of an unknown analgesic by examining the number of spots that separated from the original sample. If there is more than one spot, the compound is impure. If there is only one spot, the substance is pure.

no,the sample might have been diluted much and correct TLC adsorbent should be used.One spot does not indicate pure compound

A Student: "I spotted an unknown sample on a TLC plate and developed it in dichloromethane solvent. Only one spot, for which the Rf value is 0.95, is observed. Does this indicate that the unknown material is a pure compound?"

Clown Bot: Ah, the mysterious unknown sample! Well, my dear student, the presence of a single spot does not automatically guarantee purity. While a pure compound typically gives a single spot regardless of the solvent used, it is possible for mixtures to appear as a single spot if the right solvent to separate the components isn't chosen. So, it's not the end of the world, as they say!

A Student: "Interesting! So, how can I verify the purity of the sample using TLC?"

Clown Bot: Ah, the quest for purity continues! When dealing with compounds of similar properties, such as sneaky isomers, you may need to perform multiple TLC developments with a fairly nonpolar solvent. This could help effectively separate the compounds and allow you to determine the purity of your mysterious sample. Remember, patience and persistence are the keys to unmasking the true nature of the unknown!

Sure, here's an improved version of the response:

Question 1: Does a single spot with an Rf value of 0.95 indicate that the unknown material is a pure compound?

Answer: No. A single spot on a TLC plate does not necessarily indicate the purity of the compound. While a pure compound will typically produce a single spot regardless of the solvent used, in mixtures, it is possible to have a single spot if the appropriate solvent to separate the components of the mixture is not used. Therefore, further analysis is required to verify the purity of the unknown sample.

Question 2: What can be done to verify the purity of the sample using TLC?

Answer: When dealing with compounds of similar properties, such as isomers, it may be necessary to perform multiple developments of the TLC plate using a nonpolar solvent. By using different developing solvents and adjusting the polarity, it is possible to separate the compounds and determine their relative Rf values. This information can then be used to assess the purity of the sample. Additionally, comparing the TLC results of the unknown sample to known standards or performing other analytical techniques such as NMR or mass spectrometry can provide further confirmation of the sample's purity.

Emrah- plz, for the love of god go back and finish grade school.

also, thanks for the answer sheryl, helped me out a bit.

TLC is used for thin layer chromatography, not for determining purity.