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Organic Chem 1 Post Lab Report Essay

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Post Lab Report
Experiment 3 - Chromatography – Analyzing Analgesics by TLC and Isolation of β–Carotene by Column Chromatography
Chemicals
1. Acetaminophen (C8H9NO2)

2. Aspirin (C9H8O4)

3. Caffeine (C8H10N4O2)

4. Ibuprofen (C13hH18O2)

Introduction
In this experiment, several analgesics were analyzed by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and the composition of an unknown tablet was identified. We define chromatography as the separation of two or more compounds or ions by their molecular interactions by either a moving or a stationary phase.1 There are different types of chromatography: Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Gas Liquid Chromatography (GC), and Column Chromatography (CC). All of which there two phases: …show more content…

Results
Thin Layer Chromatography Compound | Distance (cm) | Acetaminophen | 4.7 | Caffeine | 1.5 | Aspirin | 0 | Ibuprofen | 0 | Solvent front | 6.5 |

Thin Layer Chromatography with unknown Compound | Distance (cm) | Unknown | 1.5 |

Thin Layer Chromatography comparison Compound | Distance (cm) | Residue | 0 | Isolated β-carotene | 0 | Standard β-carotene | 0 |

Calculations
Rf = Distance traveled by the compound / Distance traveled by solvent

Rf Acetaminophen = 4.7cm / 6.5cm = 0.7
Rf Caffeine = 1.5cm / 6.5cm = 0.2
Rf Aspirin = 0cm / 6.5cm = 0
Rf Ibuprofen = 0cm / 6.5cm = 0
Rf Unknown = 1.5cm / 6.5cm = 0.2

Discussion
The experimental results indicate that the identity of the unknown tablet was determined by measuring and comparing the distance traveled by the known standards to the unknown standard. The Rf value of Caffeine was 0.2 and of the unknown was also 0.2 as shown by the calculations above, this proves that the unknown substance was Caffeine, given that the unknown substance traveled 1.5cm and was equal to the distance traveled by Caffeine, showing that they were the same. Acetaminophen had a Rf value of 0.7 with Aspirin having a Rf value of 0 and Ibuprofen also having a Rf value of 0. This shows that the unknown tablet was Caffeine.
Yes, the

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