Xavier Rodriguez

Organic Chemistry
Lab report

Introduction
Chromatography allows a mixture of different compounds to be partitioned between a stationary
phase and mobile phase ( eluding or solvent). The stationary phase is a solid and the mobile
phase may be liquid or a gas. As the mobile phase flows over the stationary phase the compounds
in the mixture are carried over the paper. The more double the compound is in the mobile phase,
the faster it will move along the stationary period. Absorption refers to the ability of a substance
to be absorbed to a surface. The more strongly a component is adsorbed to the stationary phase,
the slower it will be transported by the mobile phase.
Materials
250 ml beaker
Soft paint brush
Two paper clips
Pencil
ruler
M AND Ms (use six different colors)
chromatography paper
Procedure
1. Place the piece the chromatography paper on a clean surface with the longer side
horizontal and draw a horizontal line in pencil about 1.5 cm from the base of the paper
2. Use the dampened paint brush to remove the color one of the M&Ms and paint the color
on the chromatography paper about 2 cm from one end. Small spots are best
3. Clean the brush and paint another color of a M&Ms on the line about 2 cm from the first
spot
4. Repeat this until all colors are on the paper or until you have reached the end of the
chromatography paper.
5. Use the pencil to write the name of the color next to the corresponding spot
6. Roll the paper into the cylinder and hold this in place with the paper clips
7. Put water into the beaker up to a dept about 1 cm
8. Place the chromatography paper into the water below the spots
9. When the water approaches the top of the chromatography paper remove it from the
water. Mark the paper with pencil the level of the water at the top of the paper.
10. The paper should dry completely and then unravel the paper and examine it carefully.

Ingredients
Blue 1 lake, yellow 6, red 40, yellow 5, blue 1, red 40 lake, blue 2 lake, yellow 6 lake, yellow 5
lake, and blue 2.
Results
Due to the capillary action causing the solvent to flow up the paper. Once the solvent reached the
spots, the components of the spot it began to move upward with the mobile phase. Due to each
component having a characteristic chemical affinity for the paper and a characteristic chemical
affinity for the solvent. These affinities are competitive, however, its affinity for the solvent tends
to make the components follow the solvent as it moves up. Resulting in an array of colored spots.
Discussion- answer the questions in the section.
1. Different dyes separate out into different colors while others did not is because each
component mixture has its own characteristic affinities. Each component will travel at its
own rate. If the paper is large enough all the components can be separated by the time the
solvent reaches the top of the paper.
2. Some spots move further up because of the different reactions taking place. Organic
compounds interact with absorbents with different interactions. If the compound is nonpolar, it has weak Van Der Waals attractions for the absorbent. However, more polar
compounds may interact more strongly based on their interactions (dipole-dipole or
hydrogen bonding).
3. Ways to improve the separation is by using a different solvent or larger piece of
chromatography paper
4. Determining which dyes correspond to the spots on the chromatogram was extremely
difficult. If it was easy we all would crack the secret to know what indgredents are used
to make a specific colored M&M.
Calculating Rf value