The product has a higher Rf value on a silica gel TLC plate because it is less polar than the starting methyl benzoate. In general, on a silica gel TLC plate, compounds with lower polarity will have higher Rf values than more polar compounds. This is because less polar compounds will have a stronger affinity for the non-polar silica gel, and will therefore move more slowly up the plate.
On a silica gel TLC plate, the product (methyl m-nitrobenzoate) will have a higher Rf value than the starting material (methyl benzoate) because it is less polar. This is because the silica gel has a non-polar surface, and less polar compounds will have a stronger affinity for the surface of the silica gel. As a result, less polar compounds will move more slowly up the plate, giving them a higher Rf value. On the other hand, more polar compounds will have a weaker affinity for the non-polar silica gel, and will move more quickly up the plate, giving them a lower Rf value.
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