Separate to identify part 1/2

PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY OF EXTRACTED PLANT PIGMENT

AIM
This is to show hidden colours that are extracted from the plant’s pigment.

SUGGESTED APPARATUS & MATERIALS
 Test tube
 Test Tube rack
 Chromatography paper (6” long and 0.75 wide )
 Pencil
 mm ruler
 Tweezer
 Bong
 Pin
 gloves

PROCEDURE
 Take one baby spinach leaf and make a hole with a cork borer.
 Grab a chromatography paper and label its paper line (2cm) and solvent line (3.5cm).
 Place the cut leaf in the centre of the paper & solvent line and use a glass rod to put
force into it so that there would be a smudge (make sure it’s very prominent).
 Grab the test tube and pour 10 ml of acetone into it.
 Make sure only the end bit of the chromatography paper is touching the solvent
subtly, if this is not expected then the component would go past the solvent line.
 Place a pin through the solvent line and connect it to the inside of the bong.
 Tightly close the test tube.
 Wait 2 minutes and make an astute observation.
 Remove it before it reaches the solvent line.
 Calculate its rf value.


PRECAUTIONS
Make sure the tip of the paper is touching the Solvent line.
Wait for the solvent to reach nearly half the chromatography paper.
Never touch the paper with bare hands /gloves, and always use a tweezer to avoid a change
in the results.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Always wear goggles no matter the environment.
Put (long) hair in a bun.
Wear gloves if necessary (handling dangerous substances).
Wear lab coats.