Separation / Chromatography
Lets assume I have three component mixture of liquids. And I wish to determine the quantity of each component present. I have reference samples of two of the components but the other component is not identified. How do I design an experiment in order to obtain the % composition of the mixture.
I don't expect you to write whole experiment, just give me some start off. I don't have any idea to start this experiment design.
Thank you!
I would determine the boiling points of the two reference samples. Do a fractional distillation of the mixture with the knowledge of the two you know. Weigh the amounts and that should give you the percents.
To design an experiment to determine the percentage composition of a three-component liquid mixture, you can utilize a separation technique called chromatography. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get started:
1. Gather the necessary materials: You will need a chromatography paper, which is a special type of paper that allows for the separation of components in a mixture. You will also need a solvent or mobile phase that will help carry the mixture along the paper.
2. Prepare your samples: Take your reference samples of the known components and prepare them for analysis. This may involve diluting the samples to a suitable concentration.
3. Create a chromatography setup: Take the chromatography paper and draw a baseline near the bottom using a pencil. Make small dots along the baseline, one for each reference sample and one for the unknown component. Apply a small amount of each sample onto the dots. It is essential to ensure that the samples are carefully loaded, using a capillary tube or micropipette, to avoid any cross-contamination.
4. Develop the chromatogram: Suspend the chromatography paper vertically in a container with a small amount of the solvent or mobile phase. The solvent will move up the paper through capillary action, carrying the components of the mixture along. Allow the solvent to move up the paper until it reaches the desired height or near the top.
5. Visualization and analysis: Mark the solvent front once it has reached the desired height. Remove the chromatography paper from the container, and immediately mark the positions of each component using a pencil or appropriate detection method (e.g., UV lamp, staining agent). Measure the distances traveled by each component from the baseline to its respective marked spot.
6. Calculate Rf values: The Rf value, also known as the retention factor, is a ratio used to identify and compare the components of a mixture. It is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by each component by the total distance traveled by the solvent. The Rf value can be calculated for each component, allowing you to compare them with the Rf values of the known reference samples.
7. Determine the composition: By comparing the Rf values obtained from your known reference samples to the Rf value of the unknown component, you can estimate the percentage composition of the unknown component in the mixture.
It is important to note that this is just a starting point, and you may need to optimize various experimental parameters such as the choice of solvent, paper type, and visualization method, depending on the nature of your mixture and individual experiment requirements.