Chromatography Lab
1. Why is it important that only the wick and not the filter paper circle be in contact with the water in the cup?
It is important so the water could be spread from the center to the edge and create a pattern. If the filter paper circle is in contact with the water, then there wouldn't be a directional flow, and there wouldn't be a clean design.
2. What are some of the variables that will affect the pattern of colors produced on the filter paper?
Some variables are the brand of the ink, the distance the ink was placed from the center, what type of design was drawn (dots, lines, squigly lines), and the size and thickness of the dots and lines made.
3. Why does each ink seperate into different pigment bands?
Each ink seperates into different pigment bands because depending on their characteristic physical properties, they travel up the filter paper and diffuse at different rates. The partitioning of the components of the mixture between solvent and the filter paper determines the separation of the components and cause different bands to form based on their physical appearance for the paper vs. the solvent.
4. Choose one color that is present in more than one type of ink. Is the pigment that gives this color always the same? Do any of the pens appear to contain common pigments? Explain.
A color that was present in more than one type of ink was purple. The pigment that gives this color is always the same due to the fact that it is an ingrediant used to make the ink in the markers. Many of the pens appeared to contain common pigments because many of our chromatographs shared colors such as yellow, blue, and pink in their patterns.
5. Why are only water-soluble markers or pens used in this activity? How could the experiment be modified to separate the pigments in permanant markers or pens?
Only water-soluble markers and pens were used in this activity because they could be carried and spread by the water and thus create a pattern. Permanent socks, on the other hand, does not run by the water. We would have to change the solvent to another liquid besides water in order to allow permanant markers or pens to run.
It is important so the water could be spread from the center to the edge and create a pattern. If the filter paper circle is in contact with the water, then there wouldn't be a directional flow, and there wouldn't be a clean design.
2. What are some of the variables that will affect the pattern of colors produced on the filter paper?
Some variables are the brand of the ink, the distance the ink was placed from the center, what type of design was drawn (dots, lines, squigly lines), and the size and thickness of the dots and lines made.
3. Why does each ink seperate into different pigment bands?
Each ink seperates into different pigment bands because depending on their characteristic physical properties, they travel up the filter paper and diffuse at different rates. The partitioning of the components of the mixture between solvent and the filter paper determines the separation of the components and cause different bands to form based on their physical appearance for the paper vs. the solvent.
4. Choose one color that is present in more than one type of ink. Is the pigment that gives this color always the same? Do any of the pens appear to contain common pigments? Explain.
A color that was present in more than one type of ink was purple. The pigment that gives this color is always the same due to the fact that it is an ingrediant used to make the ink in the markers. Many of the pens appeared to contain common pigments because many of our chromatographs shared colors such as yellow, blue, and pink in their patterns.
5. Why are only water-soluble markers or pens used in this activity? How could the experiment be modified to separate the pigments in permanant markers or pens?
Only water-soluble markers and pens were used in this activity because they could be carried and spread by the water and thus create a pattern. Permanent socks, on the other hand, does not run by the water. We would have to change the solvent to another liquid besides water in order to allow permanant markers or pens to run.
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| PIcture taken after we put the filter paper into the water for 3 minutes |
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| Picture taken after we put the filter paper into the water for 10 minutes |
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| Our chromatographs along with some of the supplies we used (markers, cut-wedges, and scissors) |
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