Thin layer chromatography

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a chromatographic technique used for separating and analyzing mixtures of chemical compounds. It involves the use of a thin layer of adsorbent material, such as silica gel or alumina, coated onto a flat plate or sheet as the stationary phase. The mixture to be separated is applied as spots or bands near the bottom of the plate, and the plate is then placed in a developing chamber containing a solvent or mobile phase. As the mobile phase moves up the plate through capillary action, it carries the compounds with it. Different compounds travel at different rates based on their affinity for the stationary phase and the mobile phase's composition. After development, the plate is visualized using UV light, staining reagents, or by other detection methods to identify and quantify the separated compounds. TLC is a simple, cost-effective, and rapid technique widely used in laboratories for qualitative analysis, compound identification, and purity testing.