Which solvent system is more polar 30% Acetone/70% Hexane OR Ethanol? How would you be able to tell this from a column chromatography?
I am just confused about this. I think that it would be Ethanol. But I am unsure how to tell that from the column chromatography because wouldn't the more polar solvent take the beta carotene with it instead of the chlorophyll?
Ethanol has terminal hydroxyl group and hence has more polar character then the carbonyl C=O in acetone, which makes ethanol more polar than the acetone. Now in chromatography, if we run TLC containing beta carotene + Chlorophyll using Ethanol or 30-70% Acetone-Hexane mixture, then in Ethanol run, Chlorophyll will move faster and in Acetone-Hexane mixture solvent run, beta carotene will move faster. This is because, we are changing mobile phase polarity. Polar solvent will make polar compound move faster then non-polar or less polar compounds and viz. Beta carotene is pure hydrocarbon containing C=C and there are no polar groups such as hydroxyl present in the molecule. Whereas, in Chlorophyll there are polar groups present such as Mg-complex, hydroxyl etc. and which makes the molecule more polar as compared to beta-carotene.
Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.