Neha Verma, Izzy Kraushaar, Kiara Schmitzer

09/19/2023
1-3

Chemistry 11: Paper Chromatography Lab

Purpose: 1) to calculate the Rf values for common food colouring samples

2) to use Rf values to identify the components of a mixture of food colours by comparing
the Rf values to known standard values
3) explain the relationship between distance a component travels and its affinity to the
water and paper

Materials: 5 test tubes, test tube rack, ruler, pencil, chromatography paper, 4 paper clips, food
colouring, unknown mixture of food colouring, water, scissors

Background information:

Paper Chromatography: very absorbent paper is used, and a solvent is pulled up the paper by capillary
action. The solvent dissolves the mixture being separated at different rates depending on how soluble the
substance is in the solvent. The components of the mixture stick to the paper at different points
depending on their structure and how attracted they are to the surface of the paper.

Rf value is the ratio of how far the solute (dissolved substance) travels compared to the solvent (the
substance the solute is dissolved in). The value of the Rf can be used to identify the substance either by
direct comparison with a suspected component or by looking up the values of known substances.

"#$%&'() $+,-%) %.&/),$

R! = "#$%&'() $+,/)'% %.&/),$

Distance
component 2 Distance the solvent travels
travels
7.43cm
5.90cm

Distance
3.85cm

component 1
travels

Calculate the Rf value for each component in the diagram. Note: Rf values do not have
units

Component 1 distance = 3.85 cm Component 2 distance =

5.90 cm
!.#$ $.'(
Solvent distance = 7.43 cm 1) Rf = %.&! = 0.518 2) Rf = %.&! = 0.794
Procedure: 1) Set up 5 pieces of chromatography paper according to the diagram below:

20.0cm

4.00cm

Pencil line

2) Unbend 4 paper clips as follows:

These will be used to place a small sample of your food colouring sample on the
chromatography paper.

3) Use a paper clip to place a small sample of red food colouring on one piece of the
chromatography paper in the middle of the pencil line you drew 4.0cm from the bottom of
the paper.

4.0cm sample
4) Repeat step 3 for the other known colours – blue, red, yellow, and green.

5) Repeat step 3 for the unknown colour which will be located in a small container near the
front of the room with an unbent paperclip to apply the sample.

6) Put about 0.5cm to 1cm of water in the bottom of each of your test tubes. Try to avoid
getting drops of water on the sides of the test tube, and place the tubes in the test tube rack:

7) Place one of your prepared chromatography papers in each test tube. The sample dot
should be above the level of the liquid in the test tube, and the end of the chromatography
paper should be above the top of the test tube.

8) Let your samples sit in the water for about 20 minutes.

 9) When your samples have run for 20 minutes, and no further separation looks to be
occurring, remove the chromatography paper. Immediately mark the solvent front
on each paper with a pencil.

Mark water line

with pencil
10) Calculate the Rf value for each component of each sample.
(see background information on page 1 of this lab sheet)

Data & Observations:

Sample tested Solute distance (cm) Solvent distance Rf

(cm)
5.11cm 6.95cm 5.11𝑐𝑚
Red = 0.735
6.95𝑐𝑚

5.56cm 6.76cm 5.56𝑐𝑚

Yellow = 0.822
6.76𝑐𝑚

6.50cm 6.80cm 6.50𝑐𝑚

Blue = 0.956
6.80𝑐𝑚

6.90cm
Colour 1(blue) = 6.63cm ).)!*+
Colour 1 = ).'(*+ = 0.961
Green
Colour 2(yellow) = 6.41cm ).&,*+
Colour 2 = ).'(*+ = 0.929

6.41cm ).('*+
Colour 1 = ).&,*+ = 0.950
Colour 1(blue) = 6.09cm
Unknown $.&(*+
Colour 2(yellow) = 5.40cm Colour 2 = ).&,*+ = 0.842

&.!(*+
Colour 3(red) = 4.30cm Colour 3 = ).&,*+ = 0.671

Rf Values of approved dyes:

Dye Red #2 Red #3 Red #4 Yellow #5 Yellow #6 Blue #1 Blue #2

Rf 0.81 0.41 0.62 0.95 0.77 1.0 0.79
Analysis:

1) Which of your samples appear to be mixtures? Explain how you know.

The green food dye and the unknown sample appeared to be mixtures. This is evident as when the solvent
dissolved the mixture, more than one colour was apparent on the chromatography paper.

2) Do any of the dyes you tested have one or more components that are on the list of approved dyes?
If yes, which ones?

Yes, all the dyes tested have one or more components that are on the list of approved dyes. The red food
dye has one component on the list of approved dyes, which is red #2. The yellow food dye has one
component on the list of approved dyes, which is yellow #6. The blue food dye has one component on the
list of approved dyes, which is blue #1. The green food dye has 2 components on the list of approved
dyes, which are blue #1, and yellow #5. The unknown food dye has 3 components on the list of approved
dyes, which are blue #1, yellow #6, and red #4.

3) What are the components of the green food colouring? Please be as specific as possible.

The components of the green food colouring are blue #1 (0.961) and yellow #5 (0.929). These numbers
are very close to the actual approved dyes. Numbers are slightly off due to human error taking place.

4) What are the components of the unknown mixture?

The components of the unknown mixture are blue #1, yellow #6, and red #4.

5) Based on your understanding of bonding which dye has a stronger tendency to bond with water?

The Blue food dye tends to bond with water the most, as the colour has the highest Rf value.

6) Based on your understanding of bonding which dye has a stronger tendency to bond with paper?

The red food dye tends to bond with paper the most, as the colour has the lowest Rf value.

Conclusion:

The components of the unknown sample were blue #1, yellow #6, and red #4. Out of all the samples, blue
had the strongest bondage to water, and red had the strongest bondage to paper.