If i have a highly polar mobile phase, what will happen to the non-polar or less polar compounds during chromatography? will they move less up the TLC plate or actually even more because the mobile phase itself is so polar.

In chromatography, the behavior of non-polar or less polar compounds with respect to the mobile phase depends on the polarity of both the compounds and the mobile phase.

If you have a highly polar mobile phase, it means that the mobile phase is more attracted to polar substances. In this case, non-polar or less polar compounds would typically move less up the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate compared to the polar compounds.

The movement of compounds on a TLC plate is governed by the principle of "like dissolves like." Non-polar or less polar compounds are generally less soluble in a highly polar mobile phase. As a result, they will be less effectively carried along with the mobile phase as it travels up the TLC plate, causing them to have shorter distances of travel.

On the other hand, polar compounds have a stronger affinity for the polar mobile phase and will be carried more extensively up the TLC plate. If the mobile phase is extremely polar, it can even result in the complete immobility of non-polar compounds or their elution only to a small extent.

To determine the movement of non-polar or less polar compounds in a specific mobile phase, it is always recommended to conduct a few initial tests. These tests involve running a TLC plate using different solvent systems in order to identify the most suitable mobile phase that provides optimal separation and migration distance for target compounds.