Separation of given mixture of cations using Paper

Chromatography.
What Is Paper Chromatography?
Chromatography technique that uses paper sheets or strips as the adsorbent being the
stationary phase through which a solution is made to pass is called paper chromatography. It
is an inexpensive method of separating dissolved chemical substances by their different
migration rates across the sheets of paper. It is a powerful analytical tool that uses very small
quantities of material.
Paper chromatography was discovered by Synge and Martin in the year 1943.

Paper Chromatography Principle

The principle involved can be partition chromatography or adsorption chromatography.
Partition chromatography because the substances are partitioned or distributed between liquid
phases. The two phases are water held in pores of the filter paper and the other phase is a
mobile phase which passes through the paper. When the mobile phase moves, the separation
of mixture takes place. The compounds in the mixture separate themselves based on the
differences in their affinity towards stationary and mobile phase solvents under the capillary
action of pores in the paper. Adsorption chromatography between solid and liquid phases,
wherein the solid surface of the Paper is the stationary phase and the liquid phase is the
mobile phase.

Paper Chromatography Diagram

Paper Chromatography Procedure

Below we have explained the procedure to conduct Paper Chromatography Experiment for
easy understanding.
o Selecting a suitable type of development: It is decided based on the complexity of the
solvent, paper, mixture, etc. Usually ascending type or radial paper chromatography is
used as they are easy to perform. Also, it is easy to handle, the chromatogram obtained is
faster and the process is less time-consuming
o Selecting a suitable filter paper: Selection of filter paper is done based on the size of the
pores, and the sample quality.
o Prepare the sample: Sample preparation includes the dissolution of the sample in a
suitable solvent (inert with the sample under analysis) used in making the mobile phase.
o Spot the sample on the paper: Samples should be spotted at a proper position on the
paper by using a capillary tube. Chromatogram development: Chromatogram
development is spotted by immersing the paper in the mobile phase. Due to the capillary
action of paper, the mobile phase moves over the sample on the paper.
o Paper drying and compound detection: Once the chromatogram is developed, the paper
is dried using an air drier. Also, detecting solution can be sprayed on the chromatogram
developed paper and dried to identify the sample chromatogram spots.

Materials
 The Support for stationary phase will be paper,
 Solvent will be special acetone/HCl solution,
 Standard solutions of the metal cations: (a) Fe3+, (b)Cu2+
(c) Co2+, (d) solution of all three (Fe3+, Cu2+, and Co2+).
 Visualizing agent; 0.1 M ammonium hexacyano ferrate (II), (NH4)4[Fe(CN)6].

Procedure
 16 mL of the previously prepared solvent mixture was measured out and placed in a large
beaker (to be used as the mobile phase).
 Before leaving the fume hood, the beaker was tightly covered with plastic wrap. This
allowed the atmosphere within the beaker to become saturated with solvent vapour and
resulted in a more reliable chromatographic separation.
 A piece of chromatography paper that measured 24-25cm in length and 12-14 cm in
width was obtained.
 A pencil mark was drawn about 1.5 cm from the long edge of the paper to represent the
origin. Also, a line about 1 cm long was drawn 2 cm from the top.
 A drop of each solution listed was transferred to the origin line. The spots were applied
evenly over the line, leaving a margin of roughly 3 cm from each short edge of the paper.
 Each spot was identified with a pencil directly beneath the spot.
 The solutions used were: (a) Fe3+, (b) Cu2+, (c) Co2+, (d) solution of all three (Fe3+,
Cu2+, and Co2+), (e) unknown.
 Then, the paper was dried in the fume hood. The paper was formed into a cylinder
without overlapping the edges and fastened with staples to hold the shape.
 The beaker was then placed on the desk in a location where it remained undisturbed
throughout this step. Taking care to make sure the origin line remained above the solvent
level, the paper cylinder was carefully placed into the beaker and the plastic wrap cover
was replaced.
 When the solvent had risen above the short line, the cylinder was removed from the
beaker and the solvent front position was marked.
 The staples were removed, and the paper was dried in the hood.
 Finally, the paper was sprayed with a solution of ammonium hex cyanoferrate(II),
(NH4)4[Fe(CN)6].
 The presence of Fe3+ was shown by the spot turning a dark blue steel colour. Cu2+turned
rust brown, while Co2+ turned a grayish purple colour.
 Measure the distance of the centre of each spot from its origin, as well as the distance
from each origin to the solvent front.
 Calculate the Rf values of the standard reference samples and the unknown components.

Calculations:-
Solution Ions Colour Distance Rf
s after from
spray origin(cm)
A Fe+3 Light 6.0cm 0.99
brown
B Cu+2 Aqua 4.4cm 0.60
blue
C Co+2 Dull red 3.5cm 0.35
D Fe+3,Cu+2 Blue 4.0cm 0.75
,
Co+2
Assessment
 What advantages does this method have, if any, over the usual qualitative (semi-
micro) analysis procedures for cations?
The main advantage of paper chromatography is that it offers simple, low cost and hassle-free
operations.
 Why do we use pencil instead of pen when marking on the chromatography paper?
In paper chromatography the line must be drawn with the help of pencil because the pencil
lead does not dissolve in solvent, thus it will not effect the separation.
 Why do we cover the beaker with the eluting solution?
The reason for covering the container is to make sure that the atmosphere in the beaker
is saturated with solvent vapour. Saturating the atmosphere in the beaker with vapour stops
the solvent from evaporating as it rises up the paper.
 What problems might arise if we move the eluting chamber during the elution of the
chromatogram?
Filter paper Saturates the container's atmosphere with solvent. This will ensure that the
solvent will rise up evenly on the column. When TLC plate is in, do not move or jostle the
developing chamber, this would cause the solvent to move up the column unevenly