episode: -> The Magic of Ultraviolet Light. <-
had chemistry laboratory practical today.
it was pretty fun. just slightly annoying.
because could not seem to get the results i needed. despite waiting. and waiting. and waiting.
therefore had to repeat. and repeat. and repeat. eight times.
the experiment conducted today is about aldol condensation. preparation of dibenzalacetone (purification and recrystallisation).
to determine whether the reaction is complete = all reactants reacted. we had to perform thin layer chromatography (TCL) on one of the starting materials and the reaction mixture.
majority of the chemicals used today stinks alot. extremely pungent (worse than ammonia).
even the solvent (eluting solvent) used in TCL stinks real bad.
yet i had to endure through the smell. having to repeat eight times. x_x
my first three TCL plates.(under the ultraviolet lamp; ultraviolet light switched off)
my first three TCL plates.(without the ultraviolet light; you see nothing on them)
my first three TCL plates.(under the ultraviolet lamp; ultraviolet light switched on)
my first three TCL plates.(with the ultraviolet light; do you see my results now)
my first six (failed) TCL plates.(under the magic of ultraviolet light)
my first six (failed) TCL plates.(the long streak observed = my reaction mixture; the huge spot seen = one of the pure starting materials)
my last two TCL plates.(i was pretty tired of repeating the TCL experiment already; left is 7th TCL plate; right is 8th TCL plate; which the teaching assisstant finally gave his approval)
pure dibenzalacetone solid.(byebye my dear solid. see you in two weeks' time)
~ Beautiful Season ~
=*- 10:32 pm -*=