Question

how does tlc help with monitoring a reaction? (utilizing co-spotting)

Answer 1

TLC or thin layer chromatography is used to determine the number of components present in a mixture, or the identity of compounds by comparison, and also the degree of purity of a compound.

The progress of a reaction can be monitored by observing the appearance of a product or the disappearance of a reactantin the thin layer plate.

Another way of monitoring the reaction is by using co-spotting.

A co-spot is referred to a spot of a compound(A) on one area of the TLC plate and a spot of the unknown(reaction mixture) on the same area as the spot of compound A. Now, under the UV light if there is only one dark spot for the co-spotting lane, the unknown reaction mixture has only compound A. Now if the reaction has happened, a new compound(B) should be formed and two separate spots should be visible int he co-spotting lane.

This is how, TLC can be used to easily monitor a reaction.