Lab Assignment 5: Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
Experiment 1: Paper Chromatography
1. At the end of your experiment, label your four pieces of chromatography
paper with the name of the solvent used. Take a photograph of your four
pieces of chromatography paper and include your name and the date in
the image. (10 points)
2. Record your experimental results in the following table. (5 points)
Distance from
Original Line to Number Retention Factor
Solvent
Solvent Front of Bands (Rf)
(cm)
Water 13.5cm 1 66mm
Acetone 6cm 2 66mm/75mm
Mineral Oil 5.3cm 1 75mm
Acetic Acid 12.5cm 1 0mm
3. Why do the pigments move differently in the different solvents? (5 points)
They are not all equally soluble, less soluble pigments will move slower up the
chromatography paper than more soluble pigments.
Experiment 1: Paper Chromatography
1. At the end of your experiment, label your four pieces of chromatography
paper with the name of the solvent used. Take a photograph of your four
pieces of chromatography paper and include your name and the date in
the image. (10 points)
2. Record your experimental results in the following table. (5 points)
Distance from
Original Line to Number Retention Factor
Solvent
Solvent Front of Bands (Rf)
(cm)
Water 13.5cm 1 66mm
Acetone 6cm 2 66mm/75mm
Mineral Oil 5.3cm 1 75mm
Acetic Acid 12.5cm 1 0mm
3. Why do the pigments move differently in the different solvents? (5 points)
They are not all equally soluble, less soluble pigments will move slower up the
chromatography paper than more soluble pigments.
