Gas Chromatography Name _______________________

Date ______________ Per. _____

Purpose: Perform gas chromatography to analyze the composition of a mixture of alcohols.

Prelab:

1. Look up the chemical formulas, molecular weights, boiling points, and freezing points for
each of the following 4 compounds. Some or all of these may be in the sample you will
be investigating. Hint: search “MSDS” and the compound name.

Chemical Molecular Boiling Point Freezing Point

Compound
Formula Weight (g/mol) (oC) (oC)
1-butyl alcohol C4H10O 74.12 g/mol 117.7°C -89°C
C4H10O
t-butyl alcohol 74.12 g/mol 82.2°C 25.7°C

1-propyl alcohol C3H8O 60.09502 g/mol 97°C -126°C

Isopropyl alcohol C3H8O 60.09502 g/mol 82.6°C -89°C

2. Predict the order of separation based on the molecular weight.

Isopropyl alcohol
1-propyl alcohol
t-butyl alcohol
1-butyl alcohol

3. Predict the order of separation based on the boiling point.

t-butyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol
1-propyl alcohol
1-butyl alcohol

4. The mixture you will be analyzing will be carried through the column by the mobile
phase. Identify what is being used as the mobile phase..

A carrier gas, like helium, is the mobile phase.

Analysis:

1. Measure the retention time (cm) by measuring the distance from the air peak (or hash
mark) to the middle of the desired peak. Repeat for each pure sample of alcohol and the
unknown mixture. Record on the data table.

2. For the unknown only, calculate the peak area of each peak in the sample. Record on the
data table. There are a maximum of 4 peaks in each unknown. It is possible to have
fewer than 4. If that is the case leave the extra peaks blank in the data table.

Unknown Sample _____

Substance Retention Time (cm) Peak Area (cm2)

1-butyl alcohol XXXXX

t-butyl alcohol XXXXX

1-propyl alcohol XXXXX

Isopropyl alcohol XXXXX

Unknown peak 1

Unknown peak 2

Unknown peak 3

Unknown peak 4

Conclusions:
1. What alcohols were present in your unknown? How do you know?

2. Based on peak area, place the alcohols in the unknown in order of highest concentration
to lowest concentration.
3. Which physical property, boiling point or molecular weight, accounts for the distribution
of peaks of the pure alcohols on the chromatograph? Explain. Hint: look at the prelab!