Chromatography Lab

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Separating Components Of A Solution Using Chromatography

Introduction
In this lab, solutions were separated by polarity and affinity to solids by chromatography. Chromatography is the separation of a mixture, where the components move at different rates up a medium. The medium used was chromatography paper, matched with a series of developers to aid in movement of compounds upwards. The distance moved up the paper is measured and the rf is calculated. The distance the pigments traveled is divided by the distance developer traveled. The more polar a substance the further it travels up the paper. The paper works by capillary action and absorption to separate the compounds.

Mobile phase and solid phase

Purpose
The purpose of this lab was to …show more content…

Which of the three developers produced the best separation of the dye mixture? Why? Developer I, because it’s polarity caused farther distance traveled up the paper.
Describe what happens to the original spot of plant pigments extract. Traveled up 3.5 cm from point of origin.
How do your R1 values compare with those of your classmates? Similar, we worked as one group.
List some other uses of chromatography. To separate liquids into individual compounds, to separate, isolate, and identify chemical compounds.
Which of the 4 pigments migrated the farthest and why? Xanthophylls because they are more polar.
Which of the two chlorophyll forms is more soluble? Chlorophyll a
Explain why leaves change color in the fall. Because the presence of chlorophyll, which hides the carotene and xanthophyll colors, leaves.
What is the function of these plant pigments in photosynthesis? To absorb light and other nutrients and convert into energy.

Summary
In this lab, I learned how to separate and identify chemical compounds. A skill obtained would be the use of chromatography paper to separate liquids based on solubility and affinity. This skill can be very useful in future labs to identify the chemicals in a solution and their

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