June 24, 2019

PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY IN
DIFFERENT SOLVENTS
STEM 1 - EINSTEIN
Abstract
Polar solvents dissolve polar
substances and non-polar solvents
dissolve non polar substances.
Figure 1: Materials used in the experiment.
Introduction
The filter paper was cut into three,
Chromatography is a method for
measuring 0.5 inches by 8 inches and
separating the parts of a mixture of
each end of the filter paper was marked
either a gas or liquid solution containing
dot by a whiteboard marker ink. The
different chemicals. In analytical
filter papers are placed above the mouth
chemistry, paper chromatography is the
of each beakers using pencil and binder
technique of separating dissolved
clips such that each marked ends
chemical substances using sheets of
almost touch the bottom of the beaker.
specialized paper (filter paper). Ink is a
The paper chromatography set-up is
mixture that is composed of different
arranged as what is seen in Figure 2.
dyes or inks therefore we can separate
Different solvents are used in separating
them by using chromatography. The
the mixtures of the ink. Water was
molecules of the ink have different
poured first, next is vinegar and alcohol
characteristics such as polarity and
last in each assigned beakers. The
solubility. The dyes used in ink are
amount of solvent poured was just
generally partially soluble in water but
enough not to touch the marked dot in
completely soluble in organic solvents.
the filter paper. The appearance was
Solvents have varying polarity such that
then observed and the results were
different solvents dissolve different
listed.
substances.
Experimental details
The class were told to bring the
following materials per group; vinegar,
alcohol, water, a marker, three
sticks/pencils and binder clips. Filter
paper and 3 beakers were also used in
this process. Different brands of vinegar
were assigned for each group to bring,
our group was told to bring Camel
Vinegar.
Figure 2: Paper chromatography of ink in
different solvents (water, vinegar and
alcohol) from left to right.
Results and discussion
The ink-marked filter papers that were
placed in each of the three beakers with
different solvents were observed and
the results were recorded as shown in
Figure 3.
hydrogen-bond better to the water causing
these materials to move slowly away from
water-based solvents and therefore migrate
more slowly up the paper. However, the ink
bonded better to the alcohol than with the
alcohol.

Conclusion

Supporting information

Figure 3: Movement of the ink in the filter

References
paper.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Mat
The filter paper placed in the beaker
erials/Laboratory_Experiments/Wet_Lab
with a bit of water and vinegar did not
_Experiments/General_Chemistry_Labs
show any movement on the paper.
/Online_Chemistry_Lab_Manual/Chem_
However, the one placed in the beaker
9_Experiments/02%3A_Paper_Chromat
poured with a small amount of alcohol
shown an upward movement. ography_of_Gel_Ink_Pens_(Experiment
)
The setup has three components. The
https://owlcation.com/stem/What-is-
mobile phase is a solution that travels
Paper-Chromatography-Principle-Uses-
up the stationary phase, due to capillary
experiment-video
action. The mobile phase is generally
mixture of non-polar organic solvent, https://www.shodor.org/ssep/lessons/ink.ht
while the stationary phase is polar ml
organic solvent in water. Paper is used
https://www.soinc.org/sites/default/files/uplo
to support stationary phase (polar aded_files/crimebusters/Chromatography3.
organic solvent). The solvents used in pdf
chromatography are the liquids the paper is
placed in, and the solute is the ink which is
being separated.

According to Suzanne Turner, the concept

of polar and non-polar materials and how
these groups migrate in a chromatography
set-up depends on the polar nature of the
solute (ink) and solvent (chromatography
solution). More polar materials will