Pen chromatography Follow FizzicsEd 150 Science Experiments: Comments 2 You will need: A glass of water Different coloured felt tip pens White paper towelling Scissors Copyright Instruction 1 Cut a thin strip of white paper towelling using your scissors. 2 With one of the felt tips pens, draw a line across the paper towelling strip roughly 1cm from the bottom of the paper. 3 Carefully place the paper strip into the water so that only the edge of the paper touches the surface of the water. Water will rapidly rise up through the paper due to capillary action. 4 Once the water reaches the ink line, lift the paper strip off the surface of the water. You’ll notice that the ink rises upwards as the water comes up through the ink line. If you look closely, you might see some colours coming out of the line that you didn’t see before! 5 The longer you run the chromatography experiment, the more the colours spread out across the paper. 6 Try different felt tip pens for your chromatography investigation! Purple, orange and black inks tend to have hidden colours within them … which other colour inks also have hidden colours? 7 Get the Unit of Work on Mixtures here! How can we separate mixtures? What are the different techniques? From chromatography to magnetism, join us to explore the variety of ways we can separate mixtures! Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more 8 School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions. – Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from. – Designed by experienced educators. – Over 2 million students reached. – Face to face incursions & online programs available. – Early learning centre visits too! 9 Online courses for teachers & parents – Help students learn how science really works What is happening? Chromatography is used to separate chemical mixtures. If you are separating coloured compounds like ink, dyes or food colouring you can easily see the results by eye. You can also separate non-coloured compounds, like amino acids or sugars, and detect the results afterwards using staining techniques. As the solvent (in our case water) moves up the paper, it takes the mixture with it. Different components of the mixture will move at different rates depending on their affinity to the solvent i.e. are they hydrophobic (water-hating) or hydrophilic (water-loving). Changing the solvent (e.g. using methylated spirits) gives significantly different results due to the chemical properties of the dyes.. try this with the permanent ink markers instead! The water moves up the paper by capillary action. Water is sticky, so we are dealing with the forces of adhesion (water sticks to the paper) and cohesion (water sticks to itself). Note One common incorrect explanation is that the ink molecules move different distances depending on their size (smaller ones go further, larger ones not as far). While this isn’t true for this experiment, it is part of the reason behind the separation of DNA and proteins by gel electrophoresis (the other part being their charge). Variables to try Try coffee filter paper vs. paper towelling Try permanent vs water-based pens Do biro pens work? Try different solvents such as water, methylated spirits, isopropyl alcohol or turpentine. Which inks respond to which solvent? More about variable testing Extension idea Use this science experiment as part of a mock forensic investigation! Create some ink evidence that can be tested using chromatography… can investigators determine who wrote the ransom note Learn more! From colour changes to slimy science, we’ve got your kitchen chemistry covered! Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class. Marvellous Mixtures Years K to 2 Maximum 30 students Hands-on science workshop 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now CSI Forensic Science Years 7 to 10 Maximum 30 students Workshop (NSW & VIC) 60 or 90 minutes Read More Enquire Now STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now
With one of the felt tips pens, draw a line across the paper towelling strip roughly 1cm from the bottom of the paper.
Carefully place the paper strip into the water so that only the edge of the paper touches the surface of the water. Water will rapidly rise up through the paper due to capillary action.
Once the water reaches the ink line, lift the paper strip off the surface of the water. You’ll notice that the ink rises upwards as the water comes up through the ink line. If you look closely, you might see some colours coming out of the line that you didn’t see before!
Try different felt tip pens for your chromatography investigation! Purple, orange and black inks tend to have hidden colours within them … which other colour inks also have hidden colours?
Get the Unit of Work on Mixtures here! How can we separate mixtures? What are the different techniques? From chromatography to magnetism, join us to explore the variety of ways we can separate mixtures! Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more
School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions. – Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from. – Designed by experienced educators. – Over 2 million students reached. – Face to face incursions & online programs available. – Early learning centre visits too!
From colour changes to slimy science, we’ve got your kitchen chemistry covered! Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class.
Marvellous Mixtures Years K to 2 Maximum 30 students Hands-on science workshop 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now
CSI Forensic Science Years 7 to 10 Maximum 30 students Workshop (NSW & VIC) 60 or 90 minutes Read More Enquire Now
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
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