Paper Chromatography

Paper Chromatography

1. Aims to separate Chemicals (especially inks) into their respective components

2. 1. Take a Piece of Chromatography Paper

   • 2.Draw a Baseline in Pencil
     • 3. Draw Inkspots on the Baseline
       • 4. Place the bottom of the paper (under the inkspots) in solvent
         • 5. Allow the solvent to travel up the paper
           • 6. Take out the Paper and calculate Rf Values
         • (if the inkspots touch the solvent pool, they will dissolve into the solvent)
       • (inkblots must be spaced equally apart)
     • (a baseline in pen will dissolve in the solvent)

3. Rf Value (Retardation Factor)

   • Distance Moved by the Solute ------------------------------------- Distance Travelled by Solvent Front
   • Between 0 and 1
   • Can be compared in an index to find out what inks/chemicals are in the solute

4. Uses

   • Crime scene investigations
   • Fraud; Inks in Pens
   • DNA/RNA sequencing
   • Separating chemicals in mixtures like chlorophyl
   • Drug and Produce testing

5. Why it Works

   • Different chemicals have different solubilities in solvents
     • More soluble chemicals travel further up the paper
       • Eventually the chemicals separate on the paper

6. Phases

   • Mobile Phase: The Solvent; whatever travels up the chromatography paper (usually water or propanol)
   • Stationary Phase: The Paper; whatever the solution travels through

Images and files in the map