TLC Analysis of Drug Components; Yifan Wang 40017800
CHEM 221 Lab Section 53L LAB REPORT 1 (TLC Analysis of Drug Components)
2025 Concordia University
Introduction
To determine the components of a kind of drug, this is very common that
scientists use thin-layer chromatographic analysis. The principle of TLC is that it
consists a solid adsorbent which does not move (as the stationary phase) and a liquid
solvent as the mobile phase, rather than just filtering down the sample by gravity
(Lehman, 2009). To quantify the component, we use Rf value, which is a ratio of the
distance traveled by a spot up a TLC plate to the distance traveled by the solvent. The
Rf value can identify a substance through its physical property. (Lehman, 2009) Thus,
the objective of this experiment is to determine the components of the analgesic drug
and the identification of unknown through TLC analysis.
Result
Table 1: Raw Data of Distance Traveled by Spot and Solvent
Spot name Distance Traveled (cm) Front (Distance traveled
by solvent) (cm)
Unknown 1.10 4.90
Drug No. 1 1.10
Drug No. 2 3.75
Drug No. 3 3.05
The unknown is a white powder and can easily be dissolved in the solution.
The observation that the spot under the UV light (254 nm) is in pink color but
irregular circle.
, TLC Analysis of Drug Components; Yifan Wang 40017800
1
Calculation:
Distance Traveled by Spot
Use Rf =
DistanceTravcled by Solvent
1.10 cm
Unknown: R= =0.224
f
4.90 cm
1.10 cm
Drug No.1: R= =0.224
f
4.90 cm
3.75 cm
Drug No. 2: R= =0.765
f
4.90 cm
3.05 cm
Drug No.3: R= =0.622
f
4.90 cm
After calculation, the Rf value for each component is shown below:
Table 2: The Rf value for each component
Rf unknown 0.224
Rf drug No.1 (Caffeine) 0.224
Rf drug No.2 (Aspirin) 0.765
Rf drug No.3 (Acetaminophen) 0.622
Compared with table 15.1 in Lehman, we conclude that the identification of unknown
component is Caffeine. (Number in laboratory is 105)
Graph 1: Successive Chromate Graph
2
CHEM 221 Lab Section 53L LAB REPORT 1 (TLC Analysis of Drug Components)
2025 Concordia University
Introduction
To determine the components of a kind of drug, this is very common that
scientists use thin-layer chromatographic analysis. The principle of TLC is that it
consists a solid adsorbent which does not move (as the stationary phase) and a liquid
solvent as the mobile phase, rather than just filtering down the sample by gravity
(Lehman, 2009). To quantify the component, we use Rf value, which is a ratio of the
distance traveled by a spot up a TLC plate to the distance traveled by the solvent. The
Rf value can identify a substance through its physical property. (Lehman, 2009) Thus,
the objective of this experiment is to determine the components of the analgesic drug
and the identification of unknown through TLC analysis.
Result
Table 1: Raw Data of Distance Traveled by Spot and Solvent
Spot name Distance Traveled (cm) Front (Distance traveled
by solvent) (cm)
Unknown 1.10 4.90
Drug No. 1 1.10
Drug No. 2 3.75
Drug No. 3 3.05
The unknown is a white powder and can easily be dissolved in the solution.
The observation that the spot under the UV light (254 nm) is in pink color but
irregular circle.
, TLC Analysis of Drug Components; Yifan Wang 40017800
1
Calculation:
Distance Traveled by Spot
Use Rf =
DistanceTravcled by Solvent
1.10 cm
Unknown: R= =0.224
f
4.90 cm
1.10 cm
Drug No.1: R= =0.224
f
4.90 cm
3.75 cm
Drug No. 2: R= =0.765
f
4.90 cm
3.05 cm
Drug No.3: R= =0.622
f
4.90 cm
After calculation, the Rf value for each component is shown below:
Table 2: The Rf value for each component
Rf unknown 0.224
Rf drug No.1 (Caffeine) 0.224
Rf drug No.2 (Aspirin) 0.765
Rf drug No.3 (Acetaminophen) 0.622
Compared with table 15.1 in Lehman, we conclude that the identification of unknown
component is Caffeine. (Number in laboratory is 105)
Graph 1: Successive Chromate Graph
2
