When substances are mixed together it is often very difficult to separate them out and see what is included in the mixture.
Chromatography is one method in which you can separate mixtures and can help solve crimes or mystery’s. It is a method often used in forensic science!
For example if someone left you a secret note and you suspected three people and they all had different pen, you could test the pens to see what colour dyes were included and then test the note, and see which one matched.
So without further ado, I will show you how to do chromatography. it is really very simple.
You will need some
Felt tip pens – cheap ones are best and brush tips work well
Coffee filter paper
Ruler and pencil
straw
Paperclip
Clear glass beaker
Water
Method
1. Open out the filter paper and using the ruler cut a straight strip about 10cm long (or as tall as your glass) and 4cm wide (this must be less than the width of your glass as the paper cannot touch the sides!)
2. 2cm up from your strip draw a faint line across in pencil.
3. Mark on three dots evenly across the line in three different colours
4. Fold the top of the strip over the straw and fasten with a paper clip
5. Test out the size in the glass – the straw should rest on the top and the sides should not touch the glass and the bottom of the filter paper should not be touching the bottom of the glass. Addjust how much paper is folded over if it is too long.
6. Fill the bottom of the glass with water, just enough to touch the bottom edge of the paper.
7. The water should absorb and seep up the paper.
We did it twice. Once with red, blue and green and once with yellow, pink and purple
This is the results of red blue and green.
You can see clearly that the green was made up of a turquoise blue and yellow, the dark blue was made of a turquoise blue and darker blue and the red was all one shade.
Her are the results for pink, purple and yellow!
The yellow is all one shade, the pink is made up of purple and red and the purple contains blue!
So have a go and see if you can do some detective work on your pens.
Or join in the fun and link up your crafty, educational or play post to Fun Sparks this week.
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Neat experiment! I’d love to link up, but I’m not seeing where to do so =( Could you help point me in the right direction?
Sorry Amy, the link up disappeared, should be there now. x
Cool – my kids will love this one!
Send us a pic Kate!
My “at home” chromatography never works. This has inspired me to try again. I will let you know.
oooh yes, please do let us know.
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We use Chromatography too, but we check food coloring. Use google transator to understand italian language. It’s in the right part of the side bar.
Bye
Very cool! Thanks for the link up
Chromatography is so much fun. Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!
So glad you liked it!
Aaah I remember how my black pens used to fade with time and sometimes turn green, other times blue. This explains why…
Thank you for linking to Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
That looks like a lot of fun! I can’t wait until my kids are a tad older for this! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us on The Sunday Showcase
Hello again, I understand that milk paint is made from milk protein, quicklime and earth pigments. I bought some from Gallagher’s and they might have more info
http://www.milkpaintsamples.com/ warm wishes,Kelly