Chromatography is a common and extremely useful laboratory technique used

to separate and analyze complex mixtures. This procedure offers precise separation,
analyses, and purification to a wide range of samples including drugs, food particles,
plastics, pesticides, etc. Based on this approach three components form the basis of the
chromatography technique: Stationary phase, Mobile phase and Separated Molecules.

Chromatography is grounded on the principle where the compounds that you’re

trying to separate interact with the stationary and mobile phases. The components of the
mixture are absorbed by the stationary phase to different degrees and it is the various
rates of migration for each component on the adsorptive materials that allows
separation; the stronger the adsorption the slower the material passes through the
system.

TLC applies the same principles of chromatographic separation capillary action

in which a layer of liquid is used to separate mixtures from substances. This technique
requires very small quantities for characterizing the main active ingredients of certain
commercial analgesics containing acetylsalicylic acid, caffeine, acetaminophen, and
ibuprofen when they do not have many other organic compounds in significant
proportions.

By the end of this exercise, the students are expected to perform solvent-solvent
extraction technique, learn the technique of TLC and the visualization of colorless
components, resolve the components of commercial painkillers using TLC and identify
the components found in each pain killers.

If the eluting power of solvents increases with type of polarity, then polar
compound can be eluted to polar solvents. If the compound is non polar, then it can be
eluted to non-polar solvents

No. MATERIALS QUANTITY UNIT

1 Mortar and Pestle 5 Pcs.
2 Separatory Funnel 5 Pcs.
3 250 ml Beaker 5 Pcs.
4 Capillary Tubes
5 TLC Plate 5 Pcs.
6 Watch Glass 5 Pcs.
7 Graduated Cylinder 1 Pc.
8 100 ml Beaker 2 Pcs.
9 Pipette 1 Pc.
10 Aspirator 1 Pc.
11 Iron Ring 2 Pc.
12 Iron Stand 2 Pc.
13 UV Lamp 1 Pc
14 Spatula 1 Pc
No. REAGENTS QUANTITY UNIT
1 Aspirin 1 Tablet
2 Tylenol 1 Tablet
3 Excedrin 1 Tablet
4 Anacin 1 Tablet
5 Advil 1 Tablet
6 Chloroform 10 ml
7 95:5 Ethyl Acetate/Glacial Acetic ml
10
Acid
8 Water 10 ml
9 Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate
10 UV Light

Reagent Properties Hazards Proper Handling Proper Disposal

Aspirin
Excedrin
Anacin
Advil
Caffeine
Acetylsalicyclic
Acid
Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
Chloroform
Ethyl Acetate
Water
Anhydrous
Sodium Sulfate
UV Light