The correct statement among the following, for a "chromatography" purification method is :
- Rf of a polar compound is smaller than that of a non-polar compound.
- Non-polar compounds are retained at top and polar compounds come down in column chromatography.
- Organic compounds run faster than solvent in the thin layer chromatographic plate.
- Rf is an integral value.
Answer
(1) Rf of a polar compound is smaller than that of a non-polar compound.
Solution
Rf = distance moved by the compounddistance moved by the solvent front
(A): polar compound is held more strongly by the polar adsorbent ⇒ moves less ⇒ smaller Rf ⇒ (A) is correct
(B): it is the polar compound that is retained at the top; non-polar comes down first ⇒ (B) is wrong
(C): a compound can never move ahead of the solvent front ⇒ (C) is wrong
(D): Rf is a ratio < 1, not an integer ⇒ (D) is wrong
Answer: (1)