Thin layer chromatography experiment to determine which analgesic tablets contain caffeine.

£3 each!  Label it with a pencil at the top.Smudging the TLC plate with finger prints or dirty handsLowHold by the edge or top corner or use gloves.Draw a straight line about 1 cm above the base of the TLC plate using the pencil and ruler.Pressing to hard with pencil resulting in piercing through the plateLow Place the TLC plate on a table and proceed with pressure force labelingSpot the plate with a small amount of Caffeine make the spot as small as possible. Label it at the top as C Too much of caffeine on the TLC plate has the risk of running over the TLC plate and ruin it. Caffeine is toxic.LowUse a micropipette to spot the Caffeine on to the TLC plate. Do not take the caffeine in by mouth and hands must be washed afterwards. Squash a little piece of tablet A using a grinder and add a VERY small amount of solvent (50/50 ethanol solvent for dissolving sample A). Ethanol (cleapss p60) highly flammable chemical can cause to fire or skin burns. By using the grinder there is possibility of ending up with squashed finger. Aspirin is toxic.  ModerateUse the smallest volume possible; wear eye protection. Make sure the room is well ventilated. Check that equipment for extinguishing fires is nearby, eg, damp cloth, bench mat, fire blanket. If skin burned place effected area under cold water for few minutes. Make sure to grip the firmly with one hand and grind the the piece with the other. If fingers still end being squashed then place affected area under cold water for few minutes. Do not take the caffeine in by mouth and hands must be washed afterwards.Straightaway Spot the TLC plate with the Aspirin sample A. Label it at the top as A. Make the spot as small as possibleToo much of the solution on the TLC plate has the risk of running over the TLC plate and ruin it. If too much pressure put on the hand when labeling contains the risk of piercing through the TLC plate.Low Place the TLC plate on a table and proceed with low pressure force labeling. Use a micropipette to spot the Caffeine on to the TLC plateSquash a little piece of tablet B using a grinder and add a VERY small amount of solvent (50/50 ethanol solvent for dissolving sample A).Ethanol (cleapss p60) highly flammable chemical can cause to fire or skin burns. By using the grinder there is possibility of ending up with squashed finger. Aspirin is toxic.ModerateUse the smallest volume possible; wear eye protection. Make sure the room is well ventilated. Check that equipment for extinguishing fires is nearby, eg, damp cloth, bench mat, fire blanket. If skin burned place affected area under cold water for few minutes. Make sure to grip the firmly with one hand and grind the the piece with the other. If fingers still end being squashed then place affected area under cold water for few minutes. Do not take the caffeine in by mouth and hands must be washed afterwards.Straightaway Spot the TLC plate with the Aspirin sample A. Label it at the top as A. Make the spot as small as possibleToo much of the solution on the TLC plate has the risk of running over the TLC plate and ruin it. If too much pressure put on the hand when labeling contains the risk of piercing through the TLC plate.Low Place the TLC plate on a table and proceed with low pressure force labeling. Use a micropipette to spot the Caffeine on to the TLC platePour the eluting solvent, a 99/1 mixture of Ethyl Acetate/Glacial Acetic Acid, into the beaker until the solution is 5mm deep. Solution exceeds the Bottom line of the TLC plate. Inhaling the solution can cause headache  LowMeasure the solution with a ruler. Place a tight tin foil cover over the beaker to prevent the developing solution from evaporating.  Gently place the TLC plate in the beaker, touching only the edges of the plate. Inhaling the solution which is contained inside the beaker can cause headache. Dropping the TLC plate into the solution will ruin the TLC plate.  ModerateRe-cover the beaker with the tin foil cap and let the plate develop.Take out the TLC plate when the line of developing solution has approximately reached the top of the plate. Mark this line with the pencil and ruler. Let the TLC plate dry.Inhaling the solution which is contained inside the beaker can cause headache. Moving the still Wet TLC plate can cause into ripping the TLC plateModerateRe-cover the beaker with the tin foil cap after having removed the TLC plate. Dry the plate with a hairdryer on place.Expose the spots on the TLC plate by putting the plate under UV light. Gently outline each spot with a pencil. Draw a diagram of the plate in to a notebook, noting the size and location of each spot.Looking directly into the UV light can harm the eyes. ModerateAvert facing directly into the UV light. Wear protective eye wear all throughout the experiment.