Question

Column Chromatography lab question:

If you are doing a column on a mixture and both compounds come off too quickly to separate, what would be a way to solve the problem?

Answer 1

The following things you can do to solve this problem.

1. Increase the length of column. By increasing column length you can get better separation of compounds which are closer (small difference in polarity) in column. When the travelling distance increases the separation will be good.
2. Change the polarity of solvents. Use less polar solvent. In less polar solvents the components in a mixture moves more separately than higher polar solvents. In higher polar solvents everything comes out together.