Question

Which of the xylene isomer would be expected to move fastest through the GC
column, and why?

Answer 1

Ortho-xylene would be expected to move fastest through the GC column due to its lower boiling point compared to the other isomers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The xylene isomer that would be expected to move fastest through the GC column is the ortho-xylene. This is because ortho-xylene has the lowest boiling point among the three isomers (meta-xylene, ortho-xylene, and para-xylene). The boiling point of ortho-xylene is 144-145 ℃, while the boiling points of meta-xylene and para-xylene are 139-141 ℃ and 136-138 ℃ respectively.