Instructions: Plan and design an experiment to determine whose claim is correct

Students Name: Nia-Amoi Currie

Pool: D
Date: June 1, 2023

Topic: Separating Techniques

Title: Identifying the and comparing the components of callaloo and green dye

Problem:
Marsha believes callaloo and the ink in her green pen are made of the same components. Her
friend Jordan disagrees.

Hypothesis: The components of callaloo and green ink are not the same

Aim: To determine if the components of callaloo and green ink are the same.

Apparatus/Materials: Green Ink, Callaloo, Chromatography Paper, Distilled Water, Ethanol,

100ml Beaker, Motor and Pestle, Scissors, Small Pipette.

Method:
1. Using a scissors cut the Callaloo Leaves into small pieces.
2. In a Motor and Pestle grind the callaloo pieces and three drops of ethanol until a
concentrated solution is formed.
3. Then on two pieces of Chromatography paper draw a horizontal line 2cm from the
bottom of the paper.
4. Draw a “X” in the middle of the lines
5. On one piece of chromatography paper using a pipette, add a small amount of the
concentrated callaloo solution onto the X
6. Repeat step 5 using green ink instead of a concentrated callaloo solution
7. Place the tip of chromatography paper in a 100 ml beaker containing 20ml of distilled
water.
8. Record the results in a table
Controlled Variables:
The Origin point of each solution
The amount of solution in the 100ml beaker

Manipulated Variables:
The dot of concentrated callaloo solution and green ink

Responding Variables:
Retention factor [Rt]

Data to be collected: Colour of spots, Retention Factor, Distances Travelled

Colour of Spots Distance Travelled Retention Factor

(cm)

Callaloo

Green Ink Pen

Expected Results:
Chromatography is a separation technique that separates the componentes of a mixture. A paper
chromatogram can be used to detect substances containing the same components by comparing
them. If the two substances create the same number of spots that match in color, they are
presumably the same. When compared to reference spots, the spots go the same distance up the
paper and have the same Rf value.

Limitations:
Large quantities of either substances could not be applied to the paper.

Assumptions:
The drops of concentrated callaloo solution and green ink were dry before being put into the
solvent to run.

Precaution:
It was made sure that the sides of the chromatography paper did not touch the sides of the beaker.
I ensured that the dot was not immersed in the solvent