CHROMATOGRAPHY

AIM: To separate the coloured components present in a mixture of red and blue ink by
ascending paper chromatography and to find their Rf value.

THEORY:
Retention factor is defined as the ratio of the distance travelled by the coloured component
from the origin and the distance travelled by the solvent.
Distance travelled by the coloured component
R f value =
Distance travelled by the solvent

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
• Gas Jar and lid
• Glass rod and Capillary tube
• Chromatographic paper strip
CHEMICALS REQUIRED:
• Blue ink and Red ink
• Ethyl alcohol
• Distilled water
PROCEDURE:
• 20 x 2 cm chromatographic paper strip was taken, a base line was drawn at 4 cm
from one end and also a perpendicular was drawn on the base line.
• Few drops of mixture of red and blue ink were added at the intersection point on the
chromatographic paper with the help of capillary tube.
• The chromatographic paper strip was suspended in a gas jar containing 50% ethyl
alcohol solution (eluent) in such way that the ink drop should not touch the liquid.
• After few hours the paper strip was removed from the gas jar and allowed to dry.
The distance travelled by red ink, blue ink and solvent were marked with pencil.

OBSERVATION TABLE:
Sl. No Substance Distance travelled by Distance travelled by Rf value
the component the Solvent

REPORT: Red ink has higher value of retention factor. Hence it has greater rate of
adsorption.

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