CERTIFICATE

This is to verify that SHREYA AMITKUMAR

SURTI of Class XII-L has successfully completed
the investigatory project in chemistry on topic
‘To separate pigments from extracts of leaves
and flowers by paper chromatography and
determination of Rf values ‘ under the guidance
of Mrs.Rekha Nair and as per the norms
provided by the CBSE for the board
examination 2022-23.

Sign of Subject Teacher Sign of Examiner

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INDEX

 CERTIFICATE
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 OBJECTIVE
 THEORY
 MATERIALS REQUIRED
 CHEMICALS REQUIRED
 PROCEDURE
 RESULT
 PRECAUTIONS
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OBJECTI
VEfrom extracts of leaves and flowers by
To separate pigments
paper chromatography and determination of Rf values .

THEORY
Extracts from flower and leaves contain organic compounds
which are soluble in non polar solvents. Mobile phase having
some polarity should be used to separate the compounds in
this case. If the compound is coloured then it becomes easy to
locate its position on the chromatographic paper. But in the
case of a colourless substance,the substance needs to be
treated with a reagent in order to impart a characteristic
colour. The reagent used for imparting a characteristic colour is
called developer . The process of imparting a characterstic
colour is called visualization. Iodine is the most commonly used
developer in paper chromatography .

MATERI
ALS
Whatman’s filter paper , Rubber cork fixed with hook in centre ,
Capillary tube with fine tip , Scale and Pencil , Distilled water , Test
tube, Extract of flowers and papers

CHEMICALS REQUIRED
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HCl , Chloroform , Methanol or Acetone , petroleum ether

PROCEDURE
Setting up the apparatus
 Take a thin strip of Whatman’s filter paper .
 The length of the filter paper should be almost equal to the height
of the glass of the jar.
 Draw a line a t a distance of 3 cm from one end of
the strip with a pencil.
 The filter paper need to be suspended from the
hook (under cork) in the gas jar .

Preparing the paste of leaves and

flower petals
 Take a few leaves and flower peals in mortar and pestle
 Add a few drops of acetone to this paste and mix thouroughly
with the help of pestle
 Separate the coloured solution by decantation

Making spot on filter paper

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With the help of a capillary tube , put a small spot of coloured
extract on whatman’s filter paper, on the line which was marked
with pencil
 Allow the spot to dry, followed by putting another mark on the
same spot
 Repeat the above twosteps several times .

Seperation of components of pigments

 Pour a mixture a acetone and HCl in the gas jar to a depth of above 2
cm. this mixture will work as mobile phase
 Suspend the paper strip in the jar with the hook. Ensure the end of
the pencil mark just dips in the mobile phase.
 Cover the jar and wait till the mobile phase runs significantly above
the pencil line.
 Remove the paper strip and draw a line at the solvent front .Allow it
to dry.
 Put pencil marks around each coloured spot . Measure the distance
of spot and solvent from initial spot
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Calculate the Rf values of different spots with the help of expression
mentioned earlier.
 Compare the calculated and theoretical Rf values of various
components or pigments .

OBSERVATIONS
Sr.n Name of the extract Colour of Distance travelled by Distance Rf values
o spot the components of the travelled by
spots from the original solvent from
line or reference line original line
1. Chlorophyll(leaves) Green

2. Xanthophylls(leaves) Yellow

3. Carotene(flowers) Red

CALCU
LATIO
Rf values of pigments =
Distancetravelled by the pigment
Distance travelled by the solvent

NS

RESULTS
 9 As a flower can contain many pigments so , large number of
coloured spots are obtained after this experiment.
 Rf value of carotene=
 Rf value of chlorophyll =
 Rf value of xanthophyll=

PRECAU
TIONS
 A fine capillary should be used for applying the spot .
 Distance of spot from end should not be more than 3 cm.
 Spot should be small and rich in mixture .
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ACKNO
WLEDGEof this project successfully,I thank
In the accomplishment
all the teachers who have been concerned with the
project.

Primarily I would thank God for making me able to

complete this project with success .Then I would like to
thank my teacher Mrs.Rekha Nair whose valuable
guidance helped me to complete this project,her
suggestions and her instructions has served as the major
contributer towards the completion of this project. Then
I would like to thank our lab teachers Mrs.Manchu and
Mr.Rasheed.

Last but not the least I would like to thank my parents

and classmates for their suggestions and help me to
complete the project on time

THANK YOU
1
THE INDIAN SCHOOL BAHRAIN
CHEMIS
TRY
TO PROJEC
SEPARAT
TE
FROM
EXTRAC
TS OF
SHREYA .A. SURTI
LEAVES
AND XII-L
FLOWER GR.NO-47642
S BY
PAPER