The simulation experiments offer information to the students that Rf value of the analyte increases and decreases with the rise and decrease of the polarity of the solvent system for the same stationary phase.
The solvent system is an organic solvent or mixture of different organic solvents. As the solvent system moves over the surface of the stationary phase, it transports the analyte over the particles of the stationary phase. Therefore, if a highly polar solvent is used, it will interact strongly with the surface of the stationary phase and will leave only few sites on the stationary phase free to bind with the analyte.
The polarity of a solvent system to be used for chromatography is evaluated by examining the dielectric constant and dipole moment of the solvent. The larger these two numbers, the more polar is the solvent. In addition, the hydrogen bonding ability of the solvent is also considered.