Chromatography

[mandy]

A pure substance was suspected of being the high molecular weight anabolic steroid Stanzolol. A sample of this substance was dissolved in a suitable pure solvent and injected into a gas chromatograph. How many peaks would you expect to see in the resulting chromatogram? Justify your answer.

How am I meant to know?

[fady_22]

You should have only one peak, because it is supposed to be a pure substance (therefore only consists of the steroid).

[vexx]

You should have only one peak, because it is supposed to be a pure substance (therefore only consists of the steroid).

Yeah the amount of elements in the compound is usually the amount of peaks in a chromatogram.
the no. of compounds in the mixture = the no. of peaks.
heh thanks mao.

[Mao]

You should have only one peak, because it is supposed to be a pure substance (therefore only consists of the steroid).

You just beat me.

Yeah the amount of elements in the compound is usually the amount of peaks in a chromatogram.

You meant the number of compounds in the mixture, not to be confused with elements as in elemental compounds [O2, N2, H2, etc]

[vexx]

You should have only one peak, because it is supposed to be a pure substance (therefore only consists of the steroid).

You just beat me.

Yeah the amount of elements in the compound is usually the amount of peaks in a chromatogram.

You meant the number of compounds in the mixture, not to be confused with elements as in elemental compounds [O2, N2, H2, etc]

oh sorry, i completely didn't think about it properly.
yep listen to mao, i'll edit my post in case i confuse anyone.

[mandy]

Thanks for the help guys :]

[herzy]

you're thinking of mass spec

[mandy]

you're thinking of mass spec

oh no, so is it wrong :S

[vexx]

you're thinking of mass spec

oh no, so is it wrong :S

no what we said above was right.

i think he meant my original comment as mass spec looks at each element. and chromo looks at the compounds in a mixture

[mandy]

you're thinking of mass spec

oh no, so is it wrong :S

no what we said above was right.

i think he meant my original comment as mass spec looks at each element. and chromo looks at the compounds in a mixture

Haha, ohhh okay. Thank you!

[herzy]

yeah lol sorry for the ambiguity. serves me right for making tired comments wtihout reading the thread properly

[longy1991]

but it is "dissolved in a suitable pure solvent", therefore you will get two peaks if it is pure, 1 for the solvent, and 1 for the steroid.