This question relates to a column chromatography experiment: The two compounds s

Question

This question relates to a column chromatography experiment:

The two compounds separated are bibenzyl and benzhydrol. The bibenzyl/benzhydrol mixture is dissolved in methylene chloride. The first (bibenzyl) is separated from the column with hexanes, the second (benzhydrol) is separated with ether.

a) Why is this particular order of elution of the two compounds used in this experiment?

b) Would the separation of the compounds in this experiment been successful if ether was used first and hexane used second? Why or why not?

Explanation / Answer

a.the bibenzyl is non polar molecule gets eluted with hexanes itself (polarity indes 0.1). increase in polarity with diethyl ether (polarity indes 2.8).the other compounds gets eluted. This order is due to the polarity of compounds. The polarity can be increased and not decreased, hence this particular order is used.

b. this separation would not have been succssful if ether was used first because this elutes entire loaded mixture in one lot without any separation and nothing left in the column to elute.

b.

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