Chromatology Lab Essay

565 Words3 Pages
Magic marker inks are often mixtures of several compounds. Paper chromatography is a common method of separating various components of a mixture. After separation, you can observe the different colors that make up a particular color of magic marker ink. You can also calculate a ratio Rf, which compares how far each compound traveled to how far each solvent (substance that dissolves another substance) traveled during the experiment. Rf = Ds/Df Ds = Distance traveled by the compound Df = Distance traveled by the solvent Materials: coffee filter, tape, isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), water, 3 different color magic markers (not permanent); 3 identical tall, narrow drinking glasses; metric ruler, 3 pencils Pre-lab Questions: List one extensive and one intensive property of marker ink. Intensive - color Extensive - volume Define mixture. a substance made by mixing other substances together. Is tap water a heterogeneous or homogenous mixture? Explain your answer. Water itself is an example of a homogeneous mixture. It often contains dissolved minerals and gases, but these are dissolved throughout the water. Is isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) a heterogeneous or homogenous mixture? Explain your answer. It is a combination of water and isopropanol and is homogenous. Procedure: Cut 3 strips of coffee filter. Be sure that the strips are much narrower and slightly taller than the drinking glasses. In the center the strips, about 3 cm from one end, place a dot of the marker to be tested. The dots should be about 0.2 cm in diameter and dark enough to be clearly visible. Place about 2 cm of water in each glass. Tape the unmarked end of each strip to the center of a pencil so that the strip hangs down when the pencil is held horizontally. Carefully insert the strips into the glasses, dotted end down. The dot

More about Chromatology Lab Essay

Open Document