Question: A sample was placed on a chromatography column. Methylene chloride was used as the eluting solvent. All of the components eluted off the column, but no separation was observed. What must have been happening during this experiment? How would you change the experiment to overcome this problem?

Question

My answer: Methylene chloride was too polar a sovent to use on the nonpolar sample so it eluted too fast. Try a nonpolar solvent.

This doesn't seem a difficult problem but I like to double check if possible. If not possible, I'm not too worried about it.

Thanks from Sheryl

Water and methylene chloride r immiscible to the most degree so what does that teach you? You need a new answer. Find it out and learn your molecules!

Water and methylene chloride r immiscible to the most degree so what does that teach you? You need a new answer. Find it out and learn your molecules!

Answer 1

I think the adsorbent used might have bound all the solute molecules strongly preventing them to move down the column.