Name: Nayanza McCaw

Class: 10sci
Lab #: 11
Skill: P&D
Title: Separating Techniques
Date: July 21, 2021
Problem Statement: Chemistry students were curious about dyes in their pens. Some argue
that the same dyes are used in all black ink pens despite the fact that all
shades of black in each pen are different. Plan and design an experiment
which can be used to determine if three different brands of black ink pen
(pentel, papermate, bic) contain the same dyes.

Hypothesis: The different brand pens will not contain the same dyes/ the same components in
their mixture
Aim: To investigate if three different brands of black ink pen contain the same dyes using paper
chromatography.
Apparatus: 3 different brands of black ink pen, 70% isopropyl alcohol, filter paper, scissors,
ruler, beaker, 2 pencils, tape,
Diagram of Apparatus:
 Method: 1. Cut the one end of the filter paper into a pointed shape, and the sides to ensure
they don't touch the sides of the beaker.
2. Properly secure the filter paper onto the pencil, and place atop the beaker making sure the
filter paper is short from touching the bottom.
3. Make a horizontal line about 2 cm from the bottom of the filter paper
4. At each 3cm point on the horizontal line make light pin points of each pen. Label each mark
with pencil.
5.Carefully add enough 70% isopropyl alcohol to reach the tip of the filter paper
6. Place the filter paper that's attached to the pencil atop the beaker
7. Leaving it undisturbed, every 5 minutes check to see how far the solvent has gone up.
8. Remove the filter once the solvent is 1 cm away from the pencil.
9. Allow the paper to dry before taking any observations.
10. Properly dispose of the 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Expected Results: It is expected that the mixtures of black ink will be separated into their
components
Treatment of Results:

Brand of Pentel Papermate Bic

Black Ink

Total of pigments: _______ Total of pigments:_______ Total of pigments:______

Pigment Color: Color:

1 Color: _________________ _________________
_________________

Distance measured: Distance measured: Distance measured:

_________________ _________________ _________________

Pigment Color: Color: Color:

2 _________________ _________________ _________________

Distance measured: Distance measured: Distance measured:

_________________ _________________ _________________

Pigment Color: Color: Color:

3 _________________ _________________ _________________
 Distance measured: Distance measured: Distance measured:
_________________ _________________ _________________

Pigment Color: Color: Color:

4 _________________ _________________ _________________

Distance measured: Distance measured: Distance measured:

_________________ _________________ _________________

Retention Value= Distance traveled by solute / Distance traveled by solvent

Variables:
Controlled:The filter paper and alcohol that were used to conduct chromatography.
Manipulative: The different brands of black pen inks that were used. Separation by
chromatography.
Responding:The distance that the solute move from the starting point

Precaution: The ink points should be small and rich

Keep the beaker undisturbed for the period of time.
Use a good quality pencil for drawing the horizontal line.

Limitation: A large quantity of sample cannot be applied all at the same time on paper
chromatography
Assumption: The pencil used to make the mark line did not influence any changes during the
chromatography process.