COLEGIO DE SAN JOSE, JARO, ILOILO CITY, INC.

E. Lopez St., Brgy. Our Lady of Fatima, Jaro, Iloilo City

Contact Numbers: (033) 329-1595 or 329-4151  Fax Number: (033) 329-6629
Member: Daughters of Charity-St. Louise de Marillac Educational System

INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FIRST QUARTER GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1

LABORATORY WORKHEET 2
School Year 2023-2024

Name: ________________________________________Grade 12 STEM-Sec.: ___________

Teacher: ______________________________________ Date: _______________________

I. Title: Plant Pigment Chromatography

II. Objectives:
At the end of the activity, you will be to:
1. Follow directions in order to properly complete a paper chromatography.
2. Analyze the results of a chromatography experiment in order to determine the makeup of plant
pigment
3. Appreciate the importance of paper chromatography

III. Background Information:

Paper chromatography is a technique used to separate a mixture into its component molecules. The
molecules migrate, or move up the paper, at different rates because of differences in solubility, mass,
and bonding.

The following pigments can be found in a spinach leaf (Malabar spinach):

Chlorophyll a  bright green Carotene  orange Anthocyanin- red, purple
Chlorophyll b dull (khaki) green Xanthophyll  yellow

IV. Materials:
1. Laboratory Gown & gloves 7. Laboratory Journal
2. Mayana Leaves & Dahon Kamote (plenty) 8. Scissor
3. 250 mL beaker 9. Dropper (suspension medicine)
4. Acetone (nail-polish remover) 10. Broomstick / big paper clip(1pc)
5. Pencil (sharpened) 11. Adhesive tape (masking tape)
6. Ruler 12. Mortar and pestle
13. Rugs (cleaning materials)
14. Hand towel

V. Procedure:
1. Use mortar and pestle to grind up roughly equal samples of each of the different plant leaves.
Label beaker for each type of plant.
2. Extract leaves purely without putting any liquids in ut.
3. Cut each chromatography paper in half (length-wise) to make approximately 2 centimeters (cm)
wide by 7.5 cm long strips. You will need 2 chromatography strips.
4. Use a pencil to lightly label which leaf extract will be spotted on each paper strip.
Tip: do not use a pen for writing on the strips: the ink will run when the solvent passes through the
strips.
5. Draw a pencil line 1 cm from the edge of each strip of paper to be the origin of the baseline
6. Take a dropper and fill it with one of the plant leaf extracts.
7. Spot the sample in the middle of the origin line. Let the sample air dry. Then apply another layer of
the sample on the same spot. Ideally, you want to repeat this step 5–10 times to increase the
concentration of your sample on the paper strip.
8. Repeat step 7 with the other plant leaf extracts you want to test. Use a new paper strip for each
one.
9. Fill the test tube to a depth of 1 cm with the acetone (nail-polish remover).
10. Clip two of the prepared chromatography strips to a broomstick. Make sure the two strips do not
touch each other or the test tube and that their bottoms are aligned. Rest the broomstick on top of
the beaker so that the strips hang straight into the test tube.
11. If necessary, add more of the acetone. The goal is to have the end of the chromatography strip
just touching the surface of the solvent.
(Write in the Laboratory Journal)

Group # _____________ Date: ___________

Paper Chromatography

I. Result (Illustration with label)

II. Discussion of the Result
Guide Questions:
1. Why are two solvents used in the process?
2. Justify the separation of the bands
3. Which pigment is the MOST soluble in the solvent? Explain your answer.
4. Which pigment is LEAST soluble in the solvent? Explain your answer.
5. Which pigment band is the widest?
6. Which pigment band is the most intense (darkest)?

III. Conclusions
IV. Recommendations