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Figure 1. TLC
Plate Result
II. Discussions
The objectives of the experiment was to extract as much caffeine from the four tea bags;
each tea bag weighing approximately 2g. The brand and type of tea use in the experiment was
twinings earl grey tea. In order to successfully conduct the experiment, there are specific steps
that one should follow. The four tea bags were soaked and steeped in 50mL of water for about
20 minutes. In using the steeping method, the amount of percent yield is said to increase
compared to leaving it to soak. Ideally, it is better to extract a pure caffeine from the tea bag in
order to accurately measure the content present. However, given that there are other
components present in the tea bag aside from caffeine itself and the technique used is not the
best way to extract only the caffeine content, the final product is not pure.
The second part of the experiment involved the use of energy drinks, solvent system
(20:10:3:0.2 Benzene/Diethyl Ether / Acetic Acid / Methanol) and the caffeine obtained from
the tea. The objectives of this part of the experiment was to determine the retention factors of
the three compounds mentioned. The amount of energy drink used in the experiment is
approximately 2ml. After the experiment, The caffeine content a 2 ml red bull energy drink is
said to be 6mg. (AtQ<2>).
The TLC will also provide information regarding the purity of each caffeine sample.
The three components were placed in one Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate and later on
viewed under a UV light as a means to determine the components and later on the distance
each component travelled after the exposer to the solvent system. (see figure 1).
The retention factor (Rf) of each components depends on the distance travelled from
the solvent front when placed in a beaker with the solvent system. In obtaining this, one is able
to see the separation of non-volatile mixtures and also able to determine their polarity. A larger
the Rf value indicates that it is less polar. This is due to the reason that the plate is made of a
polar component. If the component travelled at a short distance, that means it is polar. In this
experiment, one can note that the spot occupied their own lane indicates that the substance is
pure. Based on the results, the Rf value of the caffeine from the tea and the energy drink are
both close to the Rf value of the standard. (AtQ<4>.).
One of the reasons that could have affected the purity and weight of the extracted
caffeine is the presence of impurities. Given that this experiment only dealt with steeping
technique and mixing solutions, it could be possible that these are not enough to conclude that
the component extracted is purely caffeine. In order to lower the amount of impurities present
in the final result, another purification technique can be conducted. One procedure could be
sublimation which allows the compound to undergo a direct change in phase from solid to
vapor. The impurities, such as tannic acids (carboxylic acid which contains constituents), have
higher boiling point than caffeine itself. With this, the extracted caffeine may undergo this
phase change before the rest of the impurities present can.
III. Sample Calculations
IV. References
Purification of caffeine. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/test-
prep/mcat/physical-sciences-practice/physical-sciences-practice-tut/e/purification-of-caffeine
Libretexts. (2018, August 06). Thin Layer Chromatography. Retrieved from
https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Demos,_Techniques,_and_Experiments/Gene
ral_Lab_Techniques/Thin_Layer_Chromatography
What to do if compounds stay too close to the baseline or solvent front? (n.d.). Retrieved
from https://www.silicycle.com/faq/thin-layer-chromatography/what-to-do-if-compounds-
stay-too-close-to-the-baseline-or-solvent-front
Spot Distance from baseline
Rf = Solvent Front Distance from baseline
1.034