Question

The following are all commonly used solvents for TLC. What types are compounds are they good choices for separating?

Dichloromethane or toluene:

Hexane or petroleum ether:

Hexane or petroleum ether with varying proportions of toluene or ether:

Ethyl acetate, acetone, or methanol:

Answer 1

Dichloromethane us good choice due to easily volatile solvent than low volatile nature of toluene.

Hexane is best choice. Non polar character. But ether highly volatile nature.

Hexane + toouene can be used for best eluting solvent. Spots can be separated using this mixture.

Acetone and methanol are polar nature. Can not be used directly. We can use combination of ethylacetate + methanol.

Based on reaction whether the compound is polar or non polar. We have to use eluting solvent.