JEE · NEET Previous Year Question

Using column chromatography, mixture of two compounds 'A' and 'B' was separated. 'A' eluted first, this indicates 'B' has

Topic: JEE PYQ

Answer: A. Full step-by-step solution below.

  1. Alow Rf, stronger adsorption
  2. Bhigh Rf, weaker adsorption
  3. Chigh Rf, stronger adsorption
  4. Dlow Rf, weaker adsorption

Correct answer: A

Solution

(a) In chromatography, the retardation factor (Rf) is the fraction of an analyte in the mobile phase of a chromatographic system. In planar chromatography in particular, the retardation factor Rf is defined as the ratio of the distance travelled by the centre of a spot to the distance travelled by the solvent front. The more polar spot travels slower, and the less polar spot travels faster. Rf values, on the other hand, are directly related to the rate of movement. The fastest moving spot has the highest Rf value, least polar (fastest moving), and the spot with the lowest Rf value is the most polar (slowest moving). Hence, the compound B is strongly adsorbed and has low Rf value.

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