Determining Unknown Metal Components Using Chromatography

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Introduction The reaction of five transition metal cations with different solutions was studied to determine the identity of the cations. Then Paper Chromatography was used to determine two unknown components of the same five metals by measuring the movement of the solutions. Materials and Methods The first part of this lab was to identify each of five transition metal cations. Initially, 1 drop of each of the five transition metal cations was added to separate holes in the spot plate and the color of each was recorded. Then, 3 drops of 3 M HCl was added to each of the solutions and the color of each was recorded. Then, the spot plate’s contents were put into the waste beaker and the plate was cleaned. After that, 1 drop of each of the five transition metal cations was added to separate holes in the spot plate, 3 drops of 3 M NH4OH was added to each hole and the color of each was recorded. Then the spot plate was cleaned again and 1 drop of each of the five transition metal cations was added to the separate holes. After that, 1 drops of dimethylglyoxime (DMG) was added to each and the color of each was recorded. Finally, the spot plate was cleaned again. The second part of this lab was the Paper Chromatography experiment. Initially, a piece of chromatography paper was marked with a pencil so the starting point of the solutions and the location of each solution was known. Then, six capillary tubes were used to spot the five known solutions and the one unknown. The unknown number and the colors of each solution were recorded. The Chromatography paper was then folded into a cylinder and stapled at the top edge. After that, enough 9:1 acetone: 6 M HCl solution was poured into a 600 mL beaker so that the depth was about 0.5 cm and the chromatography paper was stood up in the beaker, which was then covered with foil. The chromatography paper was removed with tongs

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