CHM130

Lab 9
Chromatography
Name:

Karlee Rose

A. Data Table (12 points)

Paper Color
#

Source

Solvent Distance
Distance Rf
Component Solvent
value
Moves
Moves

Yellow

M&M
Candies

0.1%
Salt
Solution

28.88mm

42mm

0.69

Yellow

Reeses
Pieces

0.1%
Salt
Solution

16.95mm

32mm

0.53

Purple

Grape
Soda

0.1%
Salt
Solution

32.15mm

51mm

0.63

Purple

Grape
Koolaid

0.1%
Salt
Solution

12.12mm

31mm

0.39

Red

Easter
Egg Dye

0.1%
Salt
Solution

1.18mm

7mm

0.17

Red

Dry
Erase
Marker

0.1%
Salt
Solution

0.15mm

3mm

Red

Felt tip
pens

0.1%
Salt
Solution

9.6mm

24mm

0.05

0.40

Red

Koolaid

Blue

Fountain 0.1%
Pen
Salt

1.15mm

20mm

0.06

Ball
0.1%
Point Pen Salt

20.5mm

35mm

0.59

0.1%
Salt
Solution

15.77mm

22mm

0.72

Solution

10

Blue

Solution

11

Black

Picasso
Ink

0.1%
Salt
Solution

7.4mm

9mm

0.82

12

Black

Parker
Ink

0.1%
Salt
Solution

8.4mm

10mm

0.84

Follow-Up Questions:
1. What is the purpose of a chromatograph? (12 points)
The purpose of chromatograph is used to separate mixtures of
substances into their components.
2. Why does the technique call for carrying out the chromatography
experiment in a sealed jar? (12 points)
The technique calls for carrying out the chromatography
experiment in a sealed jar because some substances may be
volatile solvent, conducted in a sealed jar can avoid evaporation
of the solvent. Otherwise, your experiment will not work properly
since the solvent will evaporate.
3. Describe the comparisons you made. (14 points)
I made comparisons of colored dyes from different sources like
Reeses Pieces and M&M Candies to determine whether the
coloring components are the same. I chose the same yellow color.
The independent variable I chose is the different brands. The
dependent variable is measured using the chromatography paper.
4. What was your independent variable? (15 points)
The independent variable I chose is the different brands.
5. Which colors appeared to contain only one component? (15

points)
The color that appears to contain only one component, based
on my data, would be black.
5. Which colors were consistently composed of more than one
color? (15 points)
The color that was composed of more than one color was
purple; it is made up of red and blue dye.
6. Why does the technique require you to use a pencil to mark the
original spotting line? (15 points)
The technique requires the use of a pencil to mark the original
spotted line because chromatography is intended to split up a
mixture of compounds into its subparts. If you use a pen, the
ink will also be separated. You mark it with a pencil so the
mark will be there when you done with your experiment.
8. The solvent in the jar is approximately 1 cm deep, yet the spot
on the paper is 1 cm up on the paper. Why is it important to
keep the spots above the solvent? (15 points)
It is important to keep the spots above the solvent because it is
to protect the spots from dissolving in the solvent. If the spot is
submerged in the solvent, it will go to all directions, and you
cant collect data. Having the spot above the solvent allows for
the solvent to spread up the paper by capillary action.
9. What conclusion did you reach? Were the components of the
dyes similar or different? Justify your answer using your
empirical evidence. (15 points)
The conclusion I reached was that the components of the dyes
are different. The Rf value would not be the same for every
solvent as there are factors that allow each solvent to be
unique. The attractive force, particle size and solubility of each
solvent will create different results each time.
10. You run a chromatograph of two different food colorings, each
consisting of a single substance. One food color (spot X) has a
Rf value of 0.350 and the other (spot Y) has a Rf value of 0.750.
Draw a sketch of the chromatograph. Include and label in your
sketch the origin, the solvent front, and two labeled spots. (20
points)

Origin is dotted line. Black lines are solvent fronts. Red line is spot Y.
And green line is spot X.
11.As the owner of a patented ink for pens, you suspect that
another company has stolen the mixture. How could you use
chromatography to prove they are using the same formula? (20
points)
To prove another pen company has stolen the ink mixture I would
use chromatography to calculate Rf=distance component
moves/distance solvent moves. If I get the same Rf, then another
company stole the mixture.
12. Forensic scientists use chromatography in crime scene
investigations. Give an example of an instance when a forensic
scientist would need to use chromatography. (20 point s)
An example of how Forensic scientists use chromatography
would be in analyzing documents that are under
investigation for possible forgery. Items such as checks
could be analyzed with chromatography to conclude if
different inks were used while writing or signing the
document in question.
Submission
Complete the above questions in a Word document and email the lab
to your instructor via Rio Mail by the due date indicated in the Course

Calendar under the Announcements Section. You can also submit your
assignment by faxing it directly to your instructor. This is an option for
those assignments that are not submitted electronically. Please check
with your instructor for his or her specific fax number.