Column Chromatography Lab Report

In this experiment, Column Chromatography was used to separate and purified a mixed sample of Fluorine and Fluorenol. This was done by relying on this differences in polarity. Because of OH group present in the Fluorenol, that makes this substance much more polar, which cause it to move down the column at a much slower rate. After the procedures were done, the solution was collected into 13, 3 mL vials. By using TLC, the different compounds were separated and combined. Fractions #1-3 contained Flourine, #4-10 contained Fluorenol, and #11-13 did not show any significant signs of either compound. The lower determined Rf values for Fluorenol indicated that it was a more polar substance that Fluorine. Out of the beginning amount of 0.0680 grams

of Fluorenol, the recovered amount between the 6 fractions was 0.0481, a 70.7% recovery. The slightly low % recovery could be caused by the process being done too quickly. If this technique is done too quickly some of the vials with be contaminated with impurities of the other compound. Mixed melting point technique was used to determine the purity of the recovered sample. The melting point range for the recovered sample was 154.5ºC to 156.6ºC , which the mixed melting point range (pure and recovered) was 157.1ºC to 158.2ºC . The very slight difference between the melting point ranges, concluded that the recovered sample was successfully purified. The IR spectrum of the recovered sample showed peaks at 3179.00cm-1, which was a indication that an alcohol functional group was present in the sample, which confirms the Column Chromatography was successful at separating that two mixed compounds.