Problem 1: Calculating Retention Factor
A scientist is performing paper chromatography to separate the components of a dye mixture. The solvent front traveled 10.5 cm, and one of the dye spots moved 7.0 cm from the baseline.
Question:
Calculate the retention factor (Rf) of the dye spot.


The retention factor (\( R_f \)) in chromatography is calculated using the formula:

\[
R_f = \frac{\text{Distance traveled by the substance}}{\text{Distance traveled by the solvent front}}
\]

### Given:
- Distance traveled by the dye spot: \( 7.0 \, \text{cm} \)
- Distance traveled by the solvent front: \( 10.5 \, \text{cm} \)

### Calculation:
\[
R_f = \frac{7.0}{10.5}
\]

\[
R_f = 0.6667
\]

### Final Answer:
The retention factor (\( R_f \)) of the dye spot is approximately **0.67**.

Would you like further clarification or details about the calculation? Here are some related questions to explore:

1. What factors affect the retention factor in chromatography experiments?
2. How would an error in measuring the solvent front affect the \( R_f \) calculation?
3. What does a high or low \( R_f \) value indicate about a substance's polarity?
4. How could different solvent compositions alter the \( R_f \) values for the same sample?
5. What are the limitations of using \( R_f \) as a sole indicator of compound identity?

**Tip:** Ensure accurate measurements of both the solvent front and substance movement to maintain reliable \( R_f \) values.

A scientist is performing paper chromatography to separate the components of a dye mixture. The solvent front traveled 10.5 cm, and one of the dye spots moved 7.0 cm from the baseline. Calculate the retention factor (Rf) of the dye spot.

Learn how to calculate the retention factor (Rf) in paper chromatography. In this example, a scientist calculates the Rf of a dye spot by dividing its distance traveled (7.0 cm) by the solvent front distance (10.5 cm), resulting in an Rf value of approximately 0.67. This problem is ideal for students in Grades 9-12 studying chromatography techniques.

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