FLR 2 (1)

pdf

School

Florida Gulf Coast University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

2210

Subject

Chemistry

Date

Jun 11, 2024

Type

pdf

Pages

4

Uploaded by DoctorIron11545

Report
Identification of an Unknown Drug By a Thin Layer of Chromatography Experiment Performed: 1/23/2024 Introduction: In the following experience, we were tasked to identify an unknown sample and or substance by identifying the active ingredients present by using the Rf values determined by a thin layer of chromatography (TLC). By comparing the Rf values of pure chemicals (Aspirin, Acetaminophen, caffeine) to the Rf values to determine for the unknown sample of the identity of the unknown and said drug can be determined. Scheme/Equation
Equations and Calculations: Rf: distance traveled by the spot/ distance traveled by the solvent. Caffeine: 3.1 / 6 = 0.52 ASA: 4.1 / 6 = 0.68 AC: 3.5 / 6 = 0.58 U: 3.2 / 6 = 0.53 Sample Acetaminophen Caffeine Acetylsalicylic Acid Unknown #___ Rf 0.58 0.52 0.68 0.53 Safety/Hazards: Use gloves or forceps when working with silica gel on the TLC plates. When working with UV light, DO NOT look directly at it as it damages your eyes. Always wear your goggles. Procedure: Obtain the 3 known compounds (Caffine, Aspirin, and Acetaminophen) and the 1 NSAID drug sample (make sure to write the number of the unknown in the lab notebook). Find the Rf of the known compounds and of the unknown sample by using the TLC analysis and through observation of the spots. Prepare each sample, add a micro spatula of each sample into a vial of 2 ml of MeOH. Then gently draw on the base of the TLC plate with a pencil. Afterwards, spot the dissolved solution on the plate by using a capillary tube. Place the TLC plate in the chamber w/ 2-5 mL of ethylacetate. Make sure the TLC plate leaning on the side and not stuck on the side of the beaker. Allow the plate to develop until the solvent line is near the top. Remove the TLC plate with forecups, and draw in pencil a line along the solvent front so you can calculate the Rf, irradiated with the UV lamp. Circle the spots with a pencil. Then sketch the developed TLC plate
to scale in your lab notebook for all 4 samples calculate the Rf values using the ruler and then record them in the lab notebook. Once the Rf values have been calculated, run the unknown compound with those present in the unknown sample, Finally, report the identity of the unknown drug and provide rationale for the selection. For waste disposal place all the solvent waste in the non-nal waste container. Observations: Some of the plates were lined up straight, but the instructor mentioned how it doesn’t have to be 100% straight and long as the whole. Discussion Questions: 1. Why must the baseline be above the solvent level in the TLC chamber? The baseline must be above the solvent level in the TLC chamber because if the baseline is too low then the samples will dissolve at the beginning of the experiment. Additionally, this will also contaminate the solvent and it can yield inaccurate results. 2. Why are pencils used on TLC plates and pens never are? Pens should never be used on TLC plates because the pigments in the ink are soluble in organic solvents (ethyl acetate) and will also become part of the experiment's results. For pencils as long as they have a soft edge pencil it won't tamper with the experiment or yield inaccurate results because a soft pencil wouldn’t rip off the silica gel. 3. Why is it important to not let the solvent line travel past the end of the TLC plate? It is important not to allow the solvent line to pass past the end of TLC plate because this would produce a misleading result. Without a clear stopping point, some compounds will mix together or run off to the edge of the plate. All cases dad to illegibility and incorrect results. 4. If a TLC was run in a solvent system that caused all the spots to show up at the baseline, how could the system be adjusted so that useable Rf values could be determined? If the TLC plate was run in a solvent system that caused all the spots to remain at the baseline, increasing the polarity of the solvent would give useable Rf values with proper power the solvent has. Ethyl acetate is one of the most common solvent systems alongside hexanes, is the most polar in said systems. Should the spots remain at the baseline in a 20% EA% 80% hexane solution, then the EA portion would head to be increased to 30% or 40% to accelerate the
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
  • Access to all documents
  • Unlimited textbook solutions
  • 24/7 expert homework help
elution. Discussion: The examination of the thin layer chromatography (TLC) outcomes yields valuable insights into the unidentified substance. The objective of the experiment was to pinpoint the unknown substance by evaluating its Rf values against those of known compounds (Caffeine, Acetaminophen, and Acetylsalicylic Acid). The Rf values derived for each compound played a crucial role in the comparative analysis. Significantly, the Rf value for the unknown sample was identified as 0.53, closely corresponding to Caffeine's Rf value of 0.52. The minute 0.01 difference and nearly identical travel distances strongly suggest that the unknown sample is likely caffeine. Acknowledging potential sources of error and limitations in the experimental procedure is essential. The alignment of the TLC plates was noted as less than perfect, with clarification from the instructor that this imperfection did not markedly impact overall results. Nonetheless, maintaining precise alignment could improve the accuracy of future experiments.The selection of solvents in TLC holds importance for successful separation. In this instance, ethyl acetate served as the solvent, with its polarity proving suitable for the separation of the chosen compounds. The significance of the solvent system in achieving accurate Rf values was underscored in the discussion questions, especially in addressing scenarios where all spots emerge at the baseline. Adjusting the solvent system's polarity, such as increasing ethyl acetate concentration, was recommended to enhance separation and obtain usable Rf values.The discussion questions also prompted reflections on baseline placement, instrument choice (pencil vs. pen), and the importance of preventing the solvent line from extending beyond the TLC plate's end. These considerations are pivotal in ensuring result reliability and averting experimental artifacts. Conclusion: The experiment effectively employed TLC to identify an unknown substance. The computed Rf values, coupled with meticulous consideration of experimental conditions and potential sources of error, confidently suggest that the unknown sample is likely caffeine. This analysis underscores the significance of TLC in pharmaceutical analysis and emphasizes the importance of methodological precision for accurate results. As demonstrated in the calculation the unknown sample Rf was 0.53 which out of all the known samples was closest to caffeine, which was 0.52. Since the Rf results have a 0.1 difference and have traveled a nearly identical distance it can be concluded that the unknown sample is caffeine.