Chromatography Portfolio

5. What evidence is there that marker ink is a mixture?

6. Each compound in the marker ink is represented by a color. Did one compound travel farther than others? Explain why you think that this is the case.

7. Did the compounds travel farther in water or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) ? Explain why you think that this is the case.

8. How could you improve upon the accuracy of your R[f] measurements?

5. It was evident that the marker ink is a mixture because when it was subjected to chromatography process the constituent materials which made up the marker ink got separated and appear as different bands on the chromatography paper.

6. YES, the constituents of the marker have different travelling speed, so some travel slowly while others are fast. Their travelling rates depend on the mobile phases that are used during the chromatography process.

The constituents of the marker has different travelling speed because each one of them react differently with the mobile solvent that is used. Those constituents that have high affinity for the solvent used will travel faster that those that did not.

7. The mixture travel faster in alcohol that in water. This is because the ink dissolves more in the rubbing alcohol and has higher affinity for rubbing alcohol compare with water.

8. I can improve on my RF measurement by making sure that I read to the millimeter marks when taking my readings with ruler and by making sure that I record my value to four significant figures.