Chemistry - PRACTICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Question with Solution | TestHub

In chromatography, the retardation factor ($\mathrm{Rf}$) is the fraction of an analyte in the mobile phase of a chromatographic system. In planar chromatography in particular, the retardation factor $\mathrm{Rf}$ is defined as the ratio of the distance travelled by the centre of a spot to the distance travelled by the solvent front. The more polar spot travels slower, and the less polar spot travels faster. $\mathrm{Rf}$ values, on the other hand, are directly related to the rate of movement. The fastest moving spot has the highest $\mathrm{Rf}$ value, least polar (fastest moving), and the spot with the lowest $\mathrm{Rf}$ value is the most polar (slowest moving). Hence, the compound $\mathrm{B}$ is strongly adsorbed and has low $\mathrm{Rf}$ value.