Paper Chromatography

Procedure:
Colors to be tested: green, blue, red, yellow, orange, and brown M&Ms.
Place a small drop of distilled water on top of each candy and let it sit for about 10
minutes.
While waiting for the M&Ms extract to concentrate,
prepare the chromatographic chamber in a 250-mL
beaker as shown in Figure 1. Add 1.0 % NaCl solution to
the beaker to a depth of about 0.5 cm. Place a strip of
filter paper (7 x 8 cm) inside the beaker as shown in
Figure 1. Cover the beaker with a watch glass and wait
until the developing solvent (mobile phase) saturates the
filter paper.
Cut another sheet of filter paper (14 x 8 cm). Draw a
light pencil line across the paper about 0.8 cm from the
top and bottom of the sheet (see Figure 2). Using a
capillary tube, apply a small spot of the M&Ms extract on
the pencil line near the bottom of the paper (allow about 2.0 cm distance between each
spot). Let each spot dry and reapply the color concentrate (do this for 2 more times).
Figure
1. overloading!
Developing Put a
Note:
Avoid
Chamber with
label below each spot indicating the color of the
candy.
Chromatogram
Roll the paper to form a cylinder and use a stapler to join the edges of the cylinder.
Place the rolled chromatographic paper into the chamber, making sure that the spots
are not below the solvent level and that the paper is not touching the sides of the
beaker. Cover the chamber with a watch glass. Make sure the beaker remains
undisturbed. Monitor the solvent level from time to time. When the developing solvent
rises up to a height approx. 5 mm below the pencil line at the top of the cylinder, remove
the chromatogram from the chamber and open it flat on a paper towel of tissue to dry.
Mark the spots and note their colors.
Measure the distance travelled by the solvent (Figure 3). Measure the distances
travelled by the spots. Calculate the retention factor, Rf, of each of the spots using the
formula,

Rf , A =

distance travelled by solute A

distance travelled by solvent
14 cm

0.8 cm

8 cm
2 cm
R
Br

0.8 cm
Figure 2. Chromatogram dimensions

Figure 3. Calculating the

retention factor value

Waste disposal
Dispose of developing solvent directly down the sink with copious running water.
Dispose of used capillary tubes in Broken Glasswares container.

Name:____________________________
Co-workers:________________________

Date Perfomed:_______________
Date Submitted:_______________

Paper Chromatography
NOTE: STAPLE YOUR CHROMATOGRAM IN THIS DATA SHEET!
Developing solvent (mobile phase): _______________
Experimental Results:
M&Ms color

Composition

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Brown

Dye
Tartrazine (yellow #5)

Calculated Rf

Sunset yellow (yellow #6)

Allura red (red #40)
Brilliant blue (blue #1)

Which other M&Ms color/s contain/s yellow #5 (tartrazine)? _________________________

Calculations: