Raising colors
Objective: The goal of this experiment is to observe the different components present in marker inks by performing a thin layer chromatography
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Laboratory materials
A beaker
White paper
Color markers
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Reagents
Water (or ethanol)
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Questions
Why is the liquid rising through the paper?
Is any unexpected color observed? Why?
Procedure
- Draw a line 1 cm from the edge of the filter paper with a marker of your choice color.
- Place the paper inside an elution pot where you have previously added ethanol.
- Wait to see how the chromatography progresses.
Theoretical explanation
The eluent rises through the paper by capillarity, and when it reaches the ink spot, it begins to drag the pigments at different speeds.
Chromatography is a separation technique that allows isolating and analyzing substances present in certain homogeneous mixtures. It is based on the different migration speeds of the substances present in the mixture through a particular medium due to their different solubility in it.
There are different types of chromatography: thin-layer chromatography, column chromatography, gas chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography (abbreviated as HPLC) among others.
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