The question asked is: Using yur results as a guide, comment on the purity of the material in the green and yellow bands. (from a TLC of spinach extraction pigments.)
I'm not quite sure what they want here and my plate is in the lab, not here. There were yellow and green bands in the column but other colors showed up during TLC development. Apparently some additional components aside from the yellow and green ones can result from air oxidation, hydrolysis, and other chemical reactions.
Is this what they are looking for?
Thanks from Sheryl
There shouldn't be any air for oxidation to occur and unless water was used as a solvent (which isn't probable) I don't see how hydrolysis could occur. I don't know what they want either since spinach, while composed of several components, is pure spinach unless it is diluted with something. Spinach and lettuce, prehaps? :-)
It's purity is good.
Based on the information provided, the purity of the material in the green and yellow bands cannot be determined accurately without having access to the TLC plate and analyzing additional factors. The presence of other colors during TLC development suggests the possibility of additional components resulting from air oxidation, hydrolysis, or other chemical reactions. However, without further information and analysis, it is difficult to comment on the purity of the material in the green and yellow bands.
Based on the information you provided, it seems like the question is asking for your analysis and interpretation of the TLC results for the green and yellow bands in the spinach extraction pigments.
To comment on the purity of the material in the green and yellow bands, you need to refer to your TLC results. TLC, or Thin Layer Chromatography, is a common technique used to separate and identify different components in a mixture.
To perform TLC, a sample is applied as a spot near one end of a thin layer of a stationary phase, called the TLC plate. The plate is then placed in a chamber with a mobile phase, which is a solvent that moves up the plate carrying the components of the mixture with it. The different components will separate and form distinct bands on the plate.
In your case, the green and yellow bands that appeared on the TLC plate most likely represent specific compounds present in the spinach extract. These bands can provide insights into the composition and purity of the material.
To determine the purity of the material in the green and yellow bands, you would typically compare the intensity and sharpness of these bands to other bands that may have appeared during the TLC development. If the green and yellow bands are sharp and intense, with minimal interference from other components, it suggests a higher purity of these compounds in the spinach extract.
However, you mentioned that other colors showed up during the TLC development, possibly from air oxidation, hydrolysis, or other reactions. These additional components could potentially impact the purity of the green and yellow bands.
To accurately assess the purity of the material in the green and yellow bands, it is important to have the TLC plate and examine it under appropriate lighting conditions. By visualizing and analyzing the appearance of the bands, you can provide a more informed comment on the purity of the material.
It's also worth mentioning that purity is not an "all or nothing" concept. Different compounds can be present in different concentrations, and the presence of additional components does not necessarily imply impurity. The presence of other bands could simply indicate the complexity of the spinach extract and the presence of various pigments or molecules.
In summary, the question is asking for your evaluation of the purity of the material in the green and yellow bands based on your TLC results. To provide an accurate comment, it is necessary to examine the TLC plate in the lab and assess the intensity, sharpness, and presence of other bands.