Name: ________________________
Date: ________________
Chromatography
Aim: The aim of this experiment was to determine which black pen made the
mark, by separating the inks from different water-soluble black felt-tip pens.
Reagents:
1% salt solution
Apparatus:
250 mL beaker
Glass rod
Chromatography paper 21 x 6 cm
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Method:
1. Rule a pencil line across the width of the chromatography paper, 1 cm from
the bottom. * must be in pencil or the origin will move as the solvent
moves up the paper
2. Each dot in the diagram above represents a different pen, you can ask the
students to number them in pencil, 1 – 7 and the 8th dot is the unknown.
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________
3. Students ask their buddy to take the chromatography paper and the friend
is to choose one of the pens eg. No. 5 and place a dot above the section
marked unknown.
4. Roll up the chromatography paper to make a cylinder (bring the ends
together and secure at the top with a paper clip
5. Take the chromatography paper out of the beaker and make sure that the
salt solution is less than 1 cm in depth – it needs to be below the origin
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________
Place the paper into the beaker and place a watch glass on top of the beaker
When the salt solution has risen to approximately 2 cm from the top lift off the
watch glass and take out the ‘chromatogram’ lay it out to dry.
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________
Chromatography experiment
Aim: The aim of this experiment was to determine
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Reagents:
1% salt solution
8 blank ink pens
Apparatus:
250 mL beaker
Glass rod
Chromatography paper 21 x 6 cm
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Paper clip
Method:
1. Rule a pencil line across the width of the chromatography paper, 1 cm from the bottom
2. Along the origin mark, place 9 dots with the pencil and label these 1 -8, and the 9th dot,
unknown.
3. Give your chromatography paper to your prac buddy. They will choose a pen and make
a mark on your chromatography paper. It is a secret
4. Roll the chromatography paper into a cylinder and fasten with a small paper clip
5. Place the rolled-up paper next to the beaker (not into the beaker) and place a small
amount of the solution into the beaker. You must ensure that the solution level is below
the origin mar.
6. Place the cylinder into the beaker and place the watch glass onto of the beaker.
7. Allow the solution to rise up the chromatography paper until it is approximately 2cm
from the top
8. Take the chromatogram out of the solution, remove the paper clip and lay out flat onto
the paper towel.
9. Allow to dry
10. Stick into the results section of this report.
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________
Results: Tape the dry chromatogram into this space
Chromatography Experiment
Discussion:
1. Compare the chromatogram results
The non-permanent texter produced the most colours.
The permanent and whiteboard markers did not spread into different colours.
Do any of the pen marks match the unknown mark and how did you make this
inference?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Which felt-tip pen had the most colours in its black ink?
The texter produced most colours. Blue, purple, yellow and red.
Conclusion: After completing this experiment it was found that my partner had used pen
number:
……………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………