The choice of solvent system is important for good separation. The developing solvent should have a high polarity, then all of the spots will run to the top of the TLC plate, and Rf (retention factor) will be zero. With a very non-polar solvent, the spots will not move at all from their initial positions, and again Rf = 0. The best separation is achieved by using a mixture of a non-polar solvent with a polar solvent. The polarity of the developing solvent is adjusted by changing the ratio of polar to non-polar solvents in the mixture. The best developing solvent should give an Rf value of 0.3 to 0.7 for the desired compound.
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