Plant PigmentChromatography

Visual Instructions

Step through the slides to see how to set up your experiment.

Materials:BeakerChromatography Paper150ml BeakerSpinach Leaf or KaleCoin

SAFETY

BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR GOGGLES DURING LAB

Step 1:

Cut a small triangular shape into one end of the chromatography paper

Step 2:

Draw a line across the paper with a pencil

NOTE: Do Not Use an Ink Pen the Ink will Dissolve during the experiment

Step 3:

Lay the leaf over the paper and roll a coin back and forth, over the line, 2-3 times

This will leave a green line of pigment on the paper.

Let the pigment dry and then repeat this process.

Step 4:

Make sure your goggles are on!!!

Pour a small amount of chromatography solution into your beaker. There should be just enough to cover the bottom of the beaker.

Step 5:

Gently place only the tip of the chromatography paper into the solution at the bottom of the beaker.

If the green line goes into the liquid you have to start over.

Fold the upper end of the paper over the beaker to hold it in place

Allow the solution to move all the way up the paper as far as it will go. It may not make it to the top

You will see different colors appearing. These are the different pigments in the leaf.

Greens are ChlorophyllsYellows are Carotenes and Xanthophylls

Take your paper out of the beaker, let it dry.

Attach it to your notebook

Calculate the Rf value for each pigment – See your paper for how to calculate.

Clean up and return all your equipment to the counter.