In the lab you are presented with a yellowish unknown liquid

In the lab, you are presented with a yellowish, unknown liquid. You want to determine whether or not it is 1) polar, 2) a lipid, 3) saturated or unsaturated, and 4) mixed or unmixed. What is the most logical order in which to complete the following steps, what results do you expect from each step and what conclusions can you draw from each step?

perform the paper test

the substance does not mix with water

the substance is a liquid

observe if the substance is a liquid or solid

mix with water

the substance leaves three spots on the TLC strip

the substance is likely an unsaturated lipid

perform thin layer chromatography

the substance leaves a transparent spot

the substance it is likely a lipid

the substance is non-polar and may be a lipid

perform the paper test

the substance does not mix with water

the substance is a liquid

observe if the substance is a liquid or solid

mix with water

the substance leaves three spots on the TLC strip

the substance is likely an unsaturated lipid

perform thin layer chromatography

the substance leaves a transparent spot

the substance it is likely a lipid

the substance is non-polar and may be a lipid

the substance is likely a mixed lipid

Solution

perform the paper test observe if the substance is a liquid or solid if the substance is a liquid mix with water if the substance does not mix with water the substance it is likely a lipid perform thin layer chromatography the substance leaves three spots on the TLC strip the substance is likely a mixed lipid The upper spot reveals that the lipid is less polar and saturated. The middle spot suggest that lipid is polar and The below spot suggests that lipid is highly polar and unsaturated. If the substance leaves a transparent spot in thin layer chromatography the substance is likely an unsaturated lipid