Examining Solubility
Paper Chromatography
A Study of Solutions and Solubility
Purpose: To examine the solubility of some common substances in various solvents.
Also, to examine a common Qualitative Laboratory technique, called
Chromatography.
Methods, Part 1:
1. Obtain about 45 cm of Chromatography tape; cut it in half lengthwise,
then cut it into 6 pieces, each about 7.5 cm long.
2. Make small dots, about the size of a typed capital O on this page, on each
of the pieces of paper using different markers. Each dot should be 1.5 cm
from the end of the strip.
a. You MUST use: Black Sharpie, Brown Sharpie, and Black and
Blue Vis-à-vis.
b. You need to choose any two other markers to use.
3. Tape the strips onto a pencil so that the dots are at equal distances from
the pencil, and so that the strips will line up with 6 test tubes placed in a
test tube holder.
4. Fill 6 test tubes with Acetone so that the ends of the paper will hang into
the liquid (you don’t want the dots in the liquid).
5. Watch carefully.
Methods, Part 2
1. Repeat the above steps, but instead of using Acetone as your solvent, use
water.
2. Compare the results of each marker.
Questions:
1. What marker type “dissolved” in Acetone? In Water?
2. What can you tell about the inks used in Vis-à-vis markers?
3. What can you tell about the inks used in Sharpie Markers?
4. What can you deduce, knowing what you know about water’s bond type,
about the type of bond found in Sharpie inks?
5. What can you deduce about the type of bonds found in Vis-à-vis markers?
6. What ink has the most complex dyes in it?
7. What ink traveled the farthest? Can you deduce why?