Simplified Thin-Layer Chromatography of Real-Life Analgesics: An Undergraduate Laboratory Activity

This paper describes an activity for the TLC identification of the unknown medicinal components of the real-life over-the-counter pain medications acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen, alone or in combination with methocarbamol or diphenhydramine. The activity is very simple for technical staff to set up and for students to carry out. It uses little material, poses minimal health hazards, and produces little waste, while effectively demonstrating TLC in terms of intermolecular phenomena linked to structure.