Sorry, I didn't see this.
Actually you have only one mixture; it happens to have two components. There is a more or less standard procedure for separating complete unknowns (that's where you know nothing about it) and if you know nothing about it that is where you start. You have either had such a procedure already or you will be given one soon. Or consult a standard organic qualitative analysis book to see how to do it. I doubt, at the level you are, that anyone would expect you to go through the entire procedure. I'll bet that you will be give some directions as well as some glimmer of information that will help you determione what to do. I also expect you will be given more than enough sample to allow you to run a number of tests. I know I've talked in general terms, only, but with nothing more to go on, that's about the best I can do.
The thing is that we are expected to come up with the whole procedure ourselves, and present that for approval. We haven't had any separation techniques except in organic (involving distillation), and this is an instrumental lab class. We have always been given pure samples that are not mixed, to work with. We are also advised to give ourselves 3 months to do the whole thing. What I described before with knowing the sample identity in a mix and finding the concentrations through UV Spec, and HPLC is the only thing that we have learned recently.
The thing is that we mostly work with instruments and solution preparation now and not really what I did in Quant, with the whole full scale reaction experiments. It's an odd situation there, especially since there's no set up for recrystalization or filtering and etc. Where I am now, we just mostly rely on instruments to determine unknown identities, which is why I am confused here.
I guess I'll just have to find an organic quantative anaylsis book and somehow come up with a proposal. I guess the Skoog book isn't adequate for this sort of situation. Or I just hope I get an unknown with one compound in it, but how would I know that, if the powder could be white for both compounds? (and mixed)
Thanks for giving me a direction to head in, Dr.Bob.
You're welcome! I understand that the situation you are in can be challenging, especially since you are expected to come up with your own procedure for a mixed sample. Here are some suggestions on how to approach this:
1. Start by familiarizing yourself with the general techniques for separating mixtures. Although you may not have specific instructions for this in your class, you can refer to standard organic qualitative analysis books. These books will provide you with various separation techniques, such as extraction, chromatography, and distillation.
2. Based on your knowledge of separation techniques, think about which method would be most suitable for your specific mixture. Consider factors such as the solubilities of the compounds, boiling points, and other physical properties. If you have access to the Skoog book, it might still be useful as a reference for general concepts and techniques, even if it doesn't cover your specific situation.
3. Next, devise a step-by-step procedure for separating and isolating the individual compounds in your mixture. This could involve multiple stages of separation, such as an initial extraction followed by further purification using chromatography or distillation. Consider the order of separation steps, the appropriate solvents or mobile phases to use, and any other necessary conditions.
4. Once you have come up with your proposed procedure, test it in the lab using known mixtures or synthetic samples with similar properties as your unknown. This will allow you to refine and optimize your method before working with the actual sample. Make sure to record your observations, data, and any adjustments made during the testing process.
5. Finally, present your proposed procedure along with the supporting evidence from your testing to your instructor for approval. Explain your reasoning behind the chosen techniques and justify the steps you have included in your procedure. It may also be helpful to discuss potential challenges or limitations you anticipate and how you plan to address them.
Remember, the goal of this exercise is to demonstrate your understanding and ability to design a separation procedure for an unknown mixture. It's okay if you encounter difficulties along the way, as problem-solving is an essential part of the learning process. Good luck with your proposal, and don't hesitate to seek further guidance from your instructor or classmates if needed!