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Petrol is a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules varying in size from six to ten carbon atoms - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 19 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 19
Petrol is a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules varying in size from six to ten carbon atoms. Forensic investigators suspect that traces of a substance found at a suspi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Petrol is a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules varying in size from six to ten carbon atoms - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 19 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which one of the following techniques could best be used to identify the substance?
Answer
The most suitable technique for identifying a mixture of hydrocarbons, such as petrol, is gas chromatography followed by mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). This method allows for the separation of various components in the mixture and provides detailed information about their molecular weights and structures. The combination of these two techniques is particularly effective in forensic investigations where precise identification of volatile compounds is essential.