Abigail Jackson

Investigation Project
LAB#:16
DATE: January 30, 2018
TOPIC: Chromatography
AIM: To determine if all purple coloured sweets are made up of the same food dye using paper
chromatography
APPARATUS/MATERIALS: chromatography paper, ethanol, pencil, 6 beakers, masking tape, 3
different brand of purple sweets (jolly rancher, bom bom and skittles), syringe, distilled water
METHOD:
1. 3 beakers were labeled with masking tape respectively A, B and C
2. 2ml of water was poured in each the beakers respectively
3. Different brand of sweets were placed inside the respectively inside the different labelled
beakers.

4. All three beakers were swirled until a bright colour was shown
5. 3 pieces of chromatography paper 5cmx2cm was cut
6. A pencil was used to draw horizontal line 1cm from the bottom
7. 3 beakers of ethanol was prepared and labelled respectively A, B and C
8. A syringe was used to place each pigment extracted on the center of the line drawn on each
chromatography paper

9. The chromatography paper was placed in ethanol ensuring that the pigment spot is not
submerge in the ethanol and was observed.

10. The Rf values for the different components of sweets was calculated
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RESULTS

DIAGRAMS:
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CALCULATION:

distance moved my compound

Skittles sweets R.F value =
distance moved by solvent
5 cm
=
7.2cm
= 0.7cm

distance moved my compound

Jolly rancher sweets R.F. value =
distance moved by solvent
0 cm
=
4.9 cm
= 0 cm

distance moved my compound

Bon bon sweet R.F. value =
distance moved by solvent
3 cm
=
6.7 8 cm
= 0.45 cm

OBSERVATION: When the different sweets, jolly rancher, skittles and bon bon was placed in
the beaker respectively, it stated to dissolved. A syringe was used to place the dissolved
substance on the datum line and left to try. When the chromatography paper was placed in each
beaker with ethanol. Each pigment started to separate form purple to a light shade of pink.

DISSCUSION: Paper Chromatography is a method for separating dissolved substances from one
another. It is often used when the dissolved substances are colored, such as food dye. In this
experiment substances are distributed between a stationary phase and a mobile phase. The
stationary phase solution that travels up the stationary phase, carrying the samples with it and the
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mobile the ethanol and water. The skittles and the bon bon separated on the chromatography
while the jolly rancher did not because it was not soluble the in the ethanol solution. The
chromatography paper acts as an adsorbent, a solid which is capable of attracting and binding the
components in a mixture. If one of the components in the mixture is more strongly adsorbed
onto the paper than another, it will move up the paper more slowly than the solvent, hence that’s
why the skittles and the bon bon were separated on the chromatography paper. Components that
are not strongly adsorbed onto the paper will move up the paper at a faster rate. This
“partitioning” of the components of a mixture between the paper and the solvent separates the
components and gives rise to different spots. The colored sweets are easily distinguished.

LIMITATIONS
Sources of error: The datum line should not emerge in the dilute ethanol solutions
Precautions: Ensure the pigment spot on the datum line does not submerge in the ethanol
Limitation: If the candy samples are soluble in the solutions

REFLECTION:
When planning and designing the proposal lab we expected the R.F value that was calculated to
be the same However, when the experiment was carried out and the R.F value was calculated the
R.F value was different in each sweet. We also expected the colour sequence of the lab to be
red, blue and yellow. However, when the experiment was carried out and the mixture was
separated purple and a light shade was shown on the chromatography paper.

The relevance between the proposal lab and actual life is that mixtures can be separated by using
chromatography paper to see different compounds. This technique could separate dye, ink and
can catch criminals. By carrying out this experiment I’ve gained knowledge that all sweets with
the same colour no matter the brand are made using the same food dye. Although we expected all
the sweets to move up the chromatography paper the jolly rancher did not. Hence the jolly
rancher was not soluble in the ethanol solution. Everything that was planned and designed in the
proposal lab was carried out in the actual lab.

CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that when using chromatography paper that all coloured
sweets are made up of the same food dye.
Abigail Jackson