Question

Which compound has the largest Rf value using standard thin layer chromatography (TLC)?

a. para-nitrophenol

b. meta-nitrophenol

c. ortho-nitrophenol

Answer 1

The Rf values depends upon the solvent used and its interactio with the compounds studied for their Rf values

If we take non polar solvent then the Rf value of ortho nitrophenol will be highest.

Or a non polar sovent will travel faster on polar adsorbent.

in case of ortho nitrophenol the NO2 and OH group are neighbors and they interact via intra-molecular hydrogen bonding, this decreases the overall polarity of the molecule.

When a molecule is less polar it travels faster through a polar adsorbent than a highly polar molecule.

In meta and para nitrophenol there is inter-molecular hydrogen bonding.