Organic 251:237B

Experiment 7

Column Chromatography

Hajra Malik
SCC 251:237B
Experiment 7: Column Chromatography
Date: May 13th, 2014
Abstract
In this experiment column chromatography was used to separate ferrocene from
acetylferrocene. Column chromatography is a process in which we separate two
compound mixtures and usually performed for small and large scale experiments. In the
beginning we used TLC technique to select the solvent, and then we used dry packing
method to perform the column chromatography procedure in which we used two
solvents. As a result, two color patterns were observed orange and yellow. To separate
yellow solution hexane solvent was added and to separate orange color pattern hexane
ether solvent was added slowly to the column. After separating the compounds we
spotted yellow, orange and ferrocene solution on the plate to see which solution was
ferrocene with the help of solvent named Petroleum ether (non-polar). We concluded that
Rf value for yellow solution was 0.86, for orange it was 0.76 and for ferrocene it was
0.86. We can safely say that yellow solution was ferrocene based on the Rf values. On the
other hand, we used hexane ether solvent for solutions to see the distance but
unfortunately we couldnt find any related results based on Rf values.
Data
Table 1: Rf values using Petroleum Ether solvent
Solutions

Yellow

Orange

Ferrocene

Rf = Distance travelled by
compound/ distance travelled
by solvent

4.3/5.0=0.86

3.8/5.0=0.76

4.3/5.0=0.86

Organic 251:237B

Experiment 7

Column Chromatography

Fig. 1. A Chromatogram showing distance travelled by compounds and Petroleum Ether

Table 2: Rf values using Hexane Ether solvent

Solutions

Yellow

Orange

Ferrocene

Rf = Distance travelled by
compound/ distance travelled
by solvent

0/5.0=0.0

1.4/5.0=0.28

3.5/5.0=0.7

Fig. 2. A Chromatogram showing distance travelled by compounds and Hexane Ether

Organic 251:237B

Experiment 7

Column Chromatography

Discussion
The procedure of column chromatography involved few important steps like
choosing a stationary phase, choosing proper solvents, setting up apparatus, packing the
column and identification of the solutions based on Rf values. We used two different
solvents to measure the Rf values petroleum ether and hexane ether. With use of
petroleum ether the Rf values were as followed; yellow: 0.86, orange: 0.76 and ferrocene:
0.86. It is observed that ferrocene Rf value is similar to yellow solution so we can assume
that yellow solution is ferrocene. On the other hand, with the use of hexane ether we
found Rf values as followed: yellow: 0.0, orange: 1.4 and Ferrocene: 3.5. We couldnt see
any similarity between the Rf values, hence, we cannot relate any data. As we knew,
mixtures separate during stationary phase based on their polarity to the solvents. We
expected that the mixtures would elute faster in petroleum ether and that is what we got
in results. But we were not sure about the hexane ether solvent. As a result, we couldnt
find the related data to show that if it was polar or non-polar. We could have improved the
experiment technique by confirming the results of hexane ether solvent by performing it
twice or spotted correctly on the plate. There are limitations to column chromatography
technique. It gets complicated when we are separating large compounds and also two
very similar compounds. There are highly chances of getting wrong results when it comes
to similar compounds and thats probably why this technique is mostly used in industry
where they can measure it automatically and accurately.