Chemistry Implementation

Name : Rasheed Campbell

School: Kingston College
Candidate #.:
Centre #: 100057
 Introduction

There are many varieties of sorrel plant but the most commonly used in cooking is French
sorrel (Rumex scutatus). Sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is native to North America and is
not palatable to humans but produces nutritious fodder for animals.Sorrel (Hibiscus
sabdariffa) is a species of Hibiscus probably native to West Africa, used for the production of
bast fibre and as an infusion, in which it may be known as carcade. It is an annual or
perennial herb or woody-based sub-shrub, growing to 2–2.5 m tall. It often used in cooking,
beverages and traditional medicine.
Paper chromatography is an in analytical chemistry, technique for separating dissolved
chemical substances by taking advantage of their different rates of migration across sheets
of paper. It is an inexpensive but powerful analytical tool that requires very small quantities
of materials. It is primarily used as a teaching tool, having been replaced by other
chromatography methods, such as thin-layer chromatography.
Paper chromatography uses paper as the stationary phase. The exact type of paper used is
important. Filter paper is one of the best types, although paper towels and even newspaper
can also be used. Writing paper is coated so that ink does not run and because of this is less
satisfactory.

There are types of chromatography include:Ion-Exchange,Adsorption, Liquid

Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, Thin-Layer Chromatography and Paper
Chromatography. Liquid Chromatography is used in the world to test water samples to look
for pollution in lakes and rivers.
. Using a sample that is a mixture of several highly coloured components, such as ink or leaf
pigments, allows the scientist to see the components as they separate.
The amount that each component of a mixture travels can be quantified using retention
factors (Rf). The retention factor of a particular material is the ratio of the distance the spot
moved above the origin to the distance the solvent front moved above the origin.
 Procedure

1. The extract of the pale red and dark red sorrel was each prepared by placing 4 sorrel
sepal in a mortar.
2. Then 25cm of alcohol (methanol) was poured onto the sepals and the mixture crushed
with a pestle
3. A chromatography paper measuring () by () was obtained and a pencil line, 1 cm from
the bottom of the paper, was drawn across its width.
4. A capillary tube was dipped into one of the sorrel extracts and then touched onto the line
on the chromatography paper thereby creating a spot.
5. Using a different capillary tube, the same was done with the other sorrel extract and a
spot placed on the 1 cm away from the previous spot.
6. The chromatography paper was placed in a beaker containing 20cm of ethanol.
7. When the solvent front had risen up near to the top of the paper .it was removed from the
beaker and position reached by the by the solvent front marked with a pencil.
8. The distance travelled by the solvent was measured. The distance travelled by each spot
was also measured. the retention factor for each spot was calculated.
Results
Diagram of Chromatography
Chromatography
 Data Collection

Type of sorrel Distance Distance Retention factor

travelled by spot travelled by Rf
(cm) solvent

Pale red
Dark red

Rf=distance travelled by spot/ distance travelled by solvent

 Discussion
The collected data includes the solvent distance, and spot distance. The data was then used to
calculate the presented R f results.The length of the spots varied depending on the colour. For
the pale sorrel, because it lacks some colour for spot 11 and spot two because it is lighter than
the dark sorrel. The pale sorrel travelled further than the dark sorrel about 0.4 cm more. The
dark sorrel had more colours because of the fact that there were more colours in it that
contributed to its dark colour. Colours such as purple which is a dark colour in and of itself.
That which accompanies the yellow to give off that dark colouration. The pale sorrels
pigment only contains the pale red colour. The pale red sorrel had more colourless spots. The
retention factor was greater in the dark sorrel. There was a .10 difference in retention factor.

Sources of Error - Incorrect reading of when measuring Improper adjustment of the

paper in the beaker leads to this error so the paper should be held
vertical, colour disappears due to the paper drying
Limitations- The colour on paper could not be accurately identified
Reflection
The experiment helps me understand why certain fruits and plants have a specific pigment.
This experiment can impact the society identification of plant pigments, separation of
mixtures of plant pigments. The way this lab differs from my Plan and Design lab is the lack
of a Chromatography chamber. We did not use one because one was not available. The type
of alcohol used for the paper chromatography was also altered.
 Conclusion
There are different colours which make up the pigment in the sorrel. The dark sorrel has more
colours which gave it its dark pigment compared to the pale sorrel which has mostly
colourless spots.