Seperating a mixture using chromatography

Aim:
To seperate the different pigments in inks or dyes using paper chromatography.

Equipment:

• Inks from a ballpoint pen, marker pen, or food colouring.
• 250mL beaker
• Filter paper
• Scissors

Method:

1. Cut a strip of filter paper that is long enough to sit on the bottom of your beaker and still curl over the edge on the top of the beaker.
2. Rule a line in pencil approximately 2cm from the bottom of your filter strip.
3. Draw a circle a few mm above the ruled line in ballpoint pen, maker pen, or food colouring (i used marker pen).
4. Fill your beaker with water until it reaches the depth of the marked line on your strip.
5. Place the filter strip in the beaker and curl the filter poking out over the beaer so it doesnt slip in. (if the solution touches the ink the expirement will not work).
6. Record what happens...

 

The ink would've travelled further but i was in a rush to a finish so i had to stop.

Results:

The ink had a mix of a lot of red and a small amount of purple.