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BioOrganic Chemistry Laboratory - CH 205 (2015 2016) Experiment 3
Introduction:
One of the purpose of this lab/experiment is to introduce to the technique of thin-layer
chromatography (TLC). TLC is an extremely effective method for separating a mixture of different
components. The benefits of this technique are that it: 1) It is relatively fast (<10min per run). 2) Itis
inexpensive.
extraction solvent. The test tube was shaked to dissolve the tablet. The residue settled at the bottom of
the tube while the clear liquid was decanted in a clean and dry vial. A TLC plate pre-coated with the
silica gel was obtained from the professor. With a pencil, the ORIGIN was marked. A spot of the
standards and unknown analgesics was applied to the dots that was drawn on the bottom of the TLC
plate with the use of a capillary tube. The application was repeated and then the TLC plate was placed
into the developing chamber/beaker. It was covered with aluminum foil and the chromatogram was
allowed to develop undisturbed. The plate was remove from the chamber when the level of the solvent
was near the top of the plate. And the Solvent Front was marked with a pencil. The plate was allowed
to dry and it was visualized in the UV chamber. All the dark spots was measured and the chromatogram
was sketched in the logbook. And then the RF value of the standard analgesics and each components of
the tablet was calculated.
Results:
Legends
1. Acetaminophen
2. Aspirin
3. Analgesics
1
4
4. Ibuprofen
25. Mefenamic
3
Acid
Figure 1: TLC Plate with the Dark spots and its Legends
Solvent Front
Acetaminophen
Aspirin
Analgesics
Ibuprofen
Mefenamic Acid
Figure 2: Distance from the Origin and RF value of the Analgesic Tablets
RF Value
.40
.66
.74
.68
.70
Discussion:
In this experiment, the RF Value was computed by dividing the distance from the origin to the
center of the dark spot, to the distance from the origin to the solvent front. The result of it was that the
analgesics was the most active ingredient and is the one that is closest to the mobile phase. Followed by
the Mefenamic Acid, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin. The first four analgesic tablets that I mentioned are close
together and they are closer to the mobile phase than the stationary phase. This means that they are
likely to be less polar. While Acetaminophen was the one that traveled slowest and it is more attracted to
the stationary, which means it is more polar than the rest. It is probable that our experiment did not meet
the ideal results due to a chance that the measurement was a little bit big or smaller, the calibration of
was solvent was not accurate, or that the solvent has an impurity. It is all because of human error. And
from this experiment we are able to identify the active ingredients in analgesic tablets, but what do we
really know about the active ingredient? The active ingredient is the metabolite that elicits the effect of
the drug in the body.
Conclusion:
The most active ingredients in the experiment are the Analgesics, Mefenamic Acid, Ibuprofen,
and Aspirin, with Analgesics as the one that travels farthest. While the Acetaminophen is the least active
ingredient. We are also able to compute the RF Value of each Analgesic Tablets: Acetaminophen - .40,
Aspirin - .66, Ibuprofen, .68, Mefenamic Acid - .70, and Analgesics - .74. And the relationship of their
structure in the TLC plate with their chromatogram behavior is that Analgesics, Mefenamic Acid,
Ibuprofen, and Aspirin are closer to the mobile phase than the stationary, which means that they are
likely to be less polar. And Acetaminophen as being closer to the stationary phase, it is more polar.
Reference:
Buschmann, H. & Christoph, T. (2005). Analgesics: from chemistry and pharmacology to clinical
application. USA: Wiley-VCH.
Komsta, L., Hajnos, M., & Sherma, J. (2014). Thin layer chromatography in drug analysis. USA: CRC
Press.
Case, M. & Corin, S. (2000). Active ingredients in analgesics by thin layer chromatography.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin_layer_chromatography Write-up for this lab to be completed on 9/22
and 9/24
Sinatra, R. (2010). The essence of analgesia and analgesics. England: Cambridge University Press.