Seperation Techniques

Question 1

What does chromatography separate?

Describe the process.

Answer 1

Chromatography separates dyes from an ink.

• on filter paper, draw a baseline and put a drop of ink on the line
• place the filter paper in a solvent, water or ethanol (depending on ink)
• after putting a lid on the container (preventing evaporation), the solvent will seep up the paper carrying the dyes at different rates
• you will get a pattern of different dots called chromatogram.