What is the coffee ring of toluene and hexane?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the formation of coffee rings when droplets of toluene or hexane evaporate on a glass substrate. It explains that coffee leaves a ring due to dissolved solids remaining after water evaporates, while deionized water does not leave a ring because it contains no dissolved substances. Participants question the purity of the toluene and hexane used, suggesting that impurities may be responsible for the observed rings. The importance of the cleanliness of the glass and the surrounding environment is also highlighted as potential factors influencing the results. Ultimately, the purity of the solvents and the cleanliness of the experimental setup are crucial in understanding the formation of these rings.
Yinxiao Li
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When we drop a coffee droplet and wait for it to evaporate, there is a coffee ring left. Because there is coffee dissolved in the solution, and when water can evaporate into the air, the coffee cannot evaporate and it will stay.

Therefore, if we drop one DI water droplet onto the substrate, there will be no such ring left because nothing is dissolved in the DI water.

Here comes the question: when I droplet one droplet of Toluene or Hexane onto a glass substrate, there is a ring after it evaporates! Toluene and Hexane are newly bought, and they should be good and pure. Then what does this ring come from? It means something is dissolved in the Hexane and Toluene. Any clues?
 
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Do you know the purity of your toluene or hexane?
 
Similarly, how clean is the glass? How clean is the room the glass/droplet are sitting in?
 
256bits said:
Do you know the purity of your toluene or hexane?
you are right. Toluene is 95% pure.
 
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