Anisole is weakly polar while toluene is nonpolar. The more polar solute has a greater affinity for the highly polar silica gel substrate and travel a shorter distance, while the less polar solute has a greater affinity for the weakly polar methylene chloride solvent and travel a longer distance. Since Rf = distance travelled by solute/distance travelled by solvent front, toluene will have a higher Rf value as it travels a longer distance. Solution Anisole is weakly polar while toluene is nonpolar. The more polar solute has a greater affinity for the highly polar silica gel substrate and travel a shorter distance, while the less polar solute has a greater affinity for the weakly polar methylene chloride solvent and travel a longer distance. Since Rf = distance travelled by solute/distance travelled by solvent front, toluene will have a higher Rf value as it travels a longer distance..