Chromatography Lab

This experiment is dealing with the separation of dyes using Chromatography. The multiple trials done with the dyes and the different solvents used conclude that this experiment follows the scientific method. The main solvent, the paper, is what the dye, or solute,  is attracted to. The other solvents (NaCl, Alcohol, and the Chromatography solution)  are what help the dye travel up the paper. If the dye is more attracted to the paper, it will stay either in the same place or barely move with the solvent up the paper. If the liquid solvents are more attractive to the dyes, the dye will travel with the solvent up the paper. Whether the dye moves up the paper depends on the polarity of the solvent. Also, since the dye is a homogeneous mixture, the dye will separate into its original forms depending on how polar the solvent is. The chemical composition is different in all solvents, making the dye move up the paper differently. All solvents have different molecular structures, therefore their attraction towards the dyes differentiate. With the NaCl solution, the dyes moved further up the paper and are separated into its separate colors. With the alcohol, the dyes moved together and didn't fade or spread as much as the NaCl solution. With the FDC solution, the dye didn't move at all. The FDC dyes were supposed to be the control of this experiment, however they did not work according to plan. The qualitative evidence is that the dyes were proven to be a mixture according to the chromatography paper.  The separate dyes used to make a new mixture was separated when in contact with certain solvents. 

Example:  

       The quantitative data is the distance of the component compared to the distance of the solvent line/mobile phase. The different dyes in the mixtures were obviously set apart when the solvent traveled up the paper.

Examples: 

Data for Rf

Vis-a-vis: NaCl

.8cm on the 10cm mark

original color - blue

 Data for Rf

Crazart: Alcohol

.8cm on the 3cm mark

                                                   

This is the particle diagram explaining dye travelling

The 3cm mark's dye has a strong attraction to the solvent because of the molecular structure and the polarity. The 2cm mark's dye is not as attracted to the solvent, and the 1cm mark's dye is not attracted to the solvent at all. This lab reinforced the idea of intramolecular and intermolecular forces, which one is chemical and which one is physical, and the idea of 'like dissolves like' due to the polarity and nonpolarity of a substance. It also established the difference between physical and chemical properties and changes by using a certain separation technique.