Retention Factor Calculator

Calculate Retention Factor



Formula

The formula to calculate the Retention Factor (Rf) is:

\[ Rf = \frac{Dc}{Ds} \]

Where:

What is a Retention Factor?

The Retention Factor, or Rf, is a measure used in thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to evaluate the progress of a chromatographic separation. It is a ratio of the distance a solute travels on the chromatogram relative to the distance the solvent front travels from the baseline. A lower Rf value indicates that the compound is less mobile in the solvent, while a higher Rf value suggests greater mobility. The Rf value can be used to identify compounds by comparing it to known standards.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Using the formula to calculate the Retention Factor (Rf):

\[ Rf = \frac{Dc}{Ds} = \frac{5}{10} = 0.50 \]

The Retention Factor (Rf) is 0.50.