a) Predict the order of elution of a mixture of biphenyl, benzoicacid, triphenylmethanol, methyl benzoate from a silica gelcolumn. Explain your results.
b) If a man runs his column chromatography on a Friday afternoon,gets the two compounds to separate three-fourths of the way downthe column, and returns Monday to see that the compounds ran off the mixture. Why is that? Why is it not smart for the man to leave the compounds on the slightly acidic silica gel for along time?