Question

Thin layer chromatography can be used to help determine (select all correct answers)

I) the purity of a compound
II) the density of a compound
III) the melting point of a compound
IV) the number of components in a mixture
V) the identity of a compound
VI) the boiling point of a compound

Answer 1

The correct answers are:

• I. the purity of a compound
• IV. the number of components in a mixture

Step-by-step explanation:

Since thin layer chromatography (TLC) is just a qualitative method, it can not tell the exact information such as the melting point, boiling point, density or identity of a compound.

But it can tell the purity or the number of components in a mixture.

If a pure compound is added on the thin layer and dip into solvent, the TLC will show only 01 spot. If a mixture is added instead of a pure compound, several spots will be observed on the thin layer.

The number of components in a mixture can only be well-determined when the spots are separated, in some case, the spots not separated clearly so it needs some other way to tell how many components are in the mixture.