Acetylferrocene Essay

Acetylferrocene Essay

Aim The objective of this experiment was to separate a mixture of two compounds (ferrocene and acetylferrocene) using adsorption column chromatography. Introduction Adsorption column chromatography is a technique that uses a solid stationary phase which is fixed and a liquid mobile phase that moves slowly through the packed column. This technique uses the property of polarity as the compounds have a greater affinity towards the respective phases (either stationary or mobile) which leads the compounds moving at different rates through the packed column and separating from one another. The stationary phase is fixed in the column and it contains the adsorbent which attracts the more polar compound in this experiment at least. On the other ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...Whereas, hexane is non–polar because it contains only single bonds of hydrogen and carbon and the difference between the electronegativity of carbon and hydrogen is very small. Ferrocene is less polar than acetylferrocene and hexane is less polar than ethyl acetate so using the property of "like attracts like" ferrocene will have a greater affinity to hexane and acetylferrocene will have a greater affinity to ethyl acetate. Thus, ferrocene had to be eluted with hexane as it would bind to it and flow out and acetylferrocene had to be eluted with ethyl acetate as it would bind more to ethyl acetate than the adsorbent (silica) and flow out later. Table of Chemicals Compound Structure Physical Appearance Melting Point/ boiling point Safety Hazards Ferrocene Orange– yellow powder Bp= 249 C Mp= 174 C Flammable, harmful if ingested. Skin, eye, respiratory and GI irritant
Acetylferrocene Orange– red powder Bp= 160– 163 C Mp= 79–86 C Eye and skin irritant. Very toxic. Avoid ingesting and inhaling.

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