Each of the solvents given should effectively separate of the following mixtures by TLC. Match the appropriate solvent with the mixture that you would expect to separate well with the solvent. Select your solvent from the following: hexane, methylene chloride, or acetone.

Question

(a) 2 - phenylethanol and acetophenone
(b) bromobenzene and p-xylene
(c) benzoic acid, 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid, and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid

....I tried googling the reactions but nothing came up... maybe im searching the wrong way... but how are u suppose to know without doing the experiment I have no idea how to predict this stuff!!
thanks so much this website is so helpful... much better than the teachers

Answer 1

Each of the solvents given should effectively separate of the following mixtures by TLC. Match the appropriate solvent with the mixture that you would expect to separate well with the solvent. Select your solvent from the following: hexane, methylene chloride, or acetone.
(a) 2 - phenylethanol and acetophenone
(b) bromobenzene and p-xylene
(c) benzoic acid, 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid, and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid

thanks in advance

Answer 2

Read the web site I highlighted in response below and see if that gives you some ideas. The trick is to look at the components to be separated and make an educated guess about their polarity, then match that to a solvent that will move the components at different speeds up the polar surface of the TLC plate.