Paper Chromatography--PRACTICAL

PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY

Using a pencil draw a line near the bottom of a sheet of filter paper.

Add a small spot of ink onto this line and place the sheet into a beaker of water

Make sure the ink is not touching the solvent

Some compounds don't dissolve in water and ethanol is used

Place a lid on top on the container, stopping it from evaporating

The solvent will seep up the paper, carrying the ink with it

Each different dye in the ink will move up the paper at a different rate-the dyes will separate out

each dye will form a spot in a different place

Any dyes that are insoluble will stay at the base line

When the solvent has nearly reached the top of the paper, take it out and leave to dry

The end pattern of the spots is called a chromatogram