Nicholas Ramnarine Lab 3 Date: 11/11/2019

Experiment 4

Title: Separation of the dyes in screened methyl orange by paper chromatography.

Aim: In this experiment, the components of screened methyl orange - a mixture of methyl
orange and xylene cyanol- are separated using water as the solvent.

Apparatus:

Screened methyl orange

Chromatography paper,15cm * 2cm
Beaker
Water
Retort Stand
Retort Clamp
Fine capillary tube

Method:

1. A horizontal pencil line of about 1.5 cm was drawn from the bottom edge of the
chromatography paper
2. A horizontal pencil line of about 1.5 cm was drawn from the top edge of the
chromatography paper
3. The screened methyl orange was applied to the center of the bottom edge pencil line
using the fine capillary tube
4. When the spot was dried, a next cote methyl orange was applied in the same spot.
5. The retort stand was set up and water was filled into a beaker and placed near the retort
stand.
6. The chromatography paper was clamped to the retort stand using the retort clamp and
was dipped in the water were the only bellow the bottom edge line was touching the
water
7. The chromatography paper was left in the water until the water reached the top edge line
of the paper.
8. The chromatography paper was removed and dried.
9. The position of each component and the distance the water moved from the bottom
edge line.

Result:
Nicholas Ramnarine Lab 3 Date: 11/11/2019
Nicholas Ramnarine Lab 3 Date: 11/11/2019

Calculation:
Rf (retention factor) = distance move by component from origin/distance move by solvent from
the origin

Rf of component 1 = 7.4 cm /8.1 cm

= 0.9136 Rf

Rf of component 2 = 8.1 cm /8.1 cm

= 0 Rf

Precaution: The paper was not submerged past the origin

The experiment was conducted in a still environment to avoid paper moving
The paper was monitored every 30 mins

Source of Error: The solvent stopped halfway up the paper

Limitations: The solvent stopped halfway up the paper so data may not be accurate.

Discussions: The blue dye was more soluble in water because it has the least retention. The
methyl orange had two dyes yellow and blue.

Reflection: In this lab, I have learned that this method can be used in the real world such as
drug tests for sports players and drug users.

Conclusion: The methyl orange separated into two dyes blue and yellow with a retention value
of 0 and 0.9136 respectively.