EXPERIMENT NO.

18
CHROMATOGRAPHY
AIM:To separate the coloured components in the given ink mixture by ascending paper
chromatographyand find the Rf values.
Principle: Differential rates of adsorption by various components.
APPARATUS:Glassjar,glassrod,filterpaperstrip(whatmann)rubber cork with hook.
Materials required:mixture of ink,alcohol and distilled water.
Procedure:
1. Take a whatmann filter paper strip (2x20cm) and draw a line with pencil above 4cm
from one end.Draw another line lengthwise from the centre of the paper.
2.With the help of fine capillary tube,put a drop of the ink mixture at point P.let it dry in
air.put another drop at the same point again and allow it to dry.repeat 2or3 times so that
the spot P is rich with ink mixture.
3. Suspend the filter paper vertically in a glass jar containing the solvent.with the help of a
glass rod,adjust the paper in such a way that the pencil line and the ink spot remains
about 2cm above the solvent level.(50%alcohol and50%distilled water)
4. Cover the jar and keep the jar undisturbed for 20min.we can see that the rising of
solvent along with the mixture of ink.After the solvent had risen about 15cm we will notice
2 different spots in the filter paper.
5. Take the filter paper out of the jar and mark the distance that the solvent has risen on
the filter paper with a pencil. It is called the solvent front.
6.Drythpaperandfind the distance travelled by the red and the blue inkfrom the original
line and the distance travelled by the solvent from the original line.
7.Calculate the Rf values of the red and blue ink using the formula

Rf =distance travelled by the red/blue ink from the point of application

distance travelled by the solvent from the original line.
Result:TheRf value of the red ink is __________ and that of blue ink is _________

Precautions:
1.use a fine capillary tube.
2.Keep the jar undisturbed and covered during the experiment.
3.the spot should be rich in ink mixture and well dried before placing the strip in the jar.
4. keep the strip erect and do not allow the spot to dip in the solvent.

(FOLLOWING NEED TO BE WRITTEN ON THE BLANK PAGE OF THE

JOURNAL WITH PENCIL)
Rf =

Distance travelled by

ink
Distance travelled by solvent

SrNo.

Substance

1.
2.

Red
Blue

Distance travelled
by substance

Distance travelled by
solvent

RF value

(Please note chromatography paper need to be stuck on the blank side of

the journal after performing in the lab and all markings need to be shown
in pencil as shown below)

(Please note the above picture is only for representation purpose)