Paper Chromatography Lab

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Paper Chromatography Objective: The objective of this laboratory experiment was to figure out what the patient ingested. To find this out, we tested different types of sample using chromatography paper. Chromatography paper is an analytical chemistry technique for separating and identifying mixtures that are or can be colored. Introduction: Paper chromatography is a simple way of identifying unknown compounds and separate mixtures. Mixtures are made up of elements and other components. In this experiment, we used iron, cobalt, copper and nickel. There four elements are known as heavy metals. The heavy metals are in our unknown mixtures. Since we used our chromatography method, we will be able to figure out which metals our substance contains. It is important to know this especially if we are ingesting and coming in contact with them. Chromatography is a separation technique that works based on the compound interactions as those compounds tend to move within a supporting medium. The compounds interact in two phases; mobile and stationary phase. The techniques help analyzing. Identifying, purifying, and quantifying unknown separable mixtures. Mobile phase is either a liquid or gas which moves the solvent through the stationary phase during the process. The stationary phase is a liquid or solid component that’s fixed in a place for the procedure. Paper chromatography works on capillary attractions. The capillary attraction which depends on adhesive and cohesive forces allows the mobile phase to move up the stationary phase due to created surface tension interaction from the forces. Experimental Results: see attached data sheet. Post-Lab Questions: 1. Report the metals the patient has ingested. Are there any metals you can be sure he ingested? Why or why not? • In our experiment we determined three possible metals the patient could have ingested; Co2+,
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